55 minutes of bordem, 5 minutes of panic EVERY HOUR

[Leftie]

Well, the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race race finally got away today. First time in it's long History that the start was delayed due to 'weather'! The '97 race was the tragic one, with a fairly rough one in '82.

This is 'elf n safety' gone mad in my view. An experienced skipper and crew in a well found craft can make their own decissions and that has been the RORC rules since conception. It's the inclusion of inexperienced crews that has raised concerns and hence the current situation.

Minimum distance of the race is 608nm and take the average yacht 5 days, the quickest taking 3 1/2 about - these are the F1 of sailing.

For those of you interested in the 'greenest' and hardest sport follow the below link.  A first this year is that every yatch has an Iridium tracking device so that you see their position.  I'm obviously not taking part because most yachts are 'dry'!!!!!!

http://fastnet.rorc.org/container.asp?id=7126  The Google Earth seems the best option.

I did the '03 race in 'Spellbinder of Wytch', and currently she is lying below half way on the standings. I will kill somebody if they break her because I'm skippering her from the 27th.

[Fran]

I did the Fasnet in '92 (I think) on a friend's boat, I think we took just under 4 days, so not too shabby.   He was a right Capt Bligh tho, never stopped shouting at us before we even had a chance for slacking off.

I gotta say the starts of  big yacht races are some of the scariest times I have ever been through! 

Havent been sailing in years now tho, just kinda fell out of love with it somehow. 

Hope she comes back in one piece for your charter tho!

F

[knetter]

Did some sailling last weekend on the lakes in Friesland (Holland). Doesn't come close to this though, although our boat was definitely not "dry"

[SteveB]

Back in '79 I was a member of the Royal Observer Corp ,  myself & a college managed to get an air experience flight in a Nimrod from St Mawgan

During the pre flight briefing we were told that we may be diverted from our intended path due to " something unfolding" ...sure enough as soon as we took off we ended up on Search & Rescue coordination mission during the Fasnet..

That flight will always be one of those memories which stays with me for all the wrong reasons ......

I certainly wish all this years competitors a safe passage
 
 

[Leftie]

As of 2100hrs this evening, Spellbinder ofWytch is still competing and is laying 73rd of the remaining 90 yachts. 281 started the race.

As mentioned in my initial posting, many crews are pure amateurs. However I've with the skipper and some of his crew and although pure amateurs they are very skilled at their tasks.

My heart goes to those that tried, but my admiration and love for Spellbinder knows she that will bring her crew home safely.

This may be edited later.

[Fran]

Looks like its a pretty challenging race again this year.  Full marks to all that crossed the start line with the forecast as it was!

F

[Leftie]

As of 2100hrs this evening, Spellbinder ofWytch is still competing and is laying 73rd of the remaining 90 yachts. 281 started the race.

As mentioned in my initial posting, many crews are pure amateurs. However I've with the skipper and some of his crew and although pure amateurs they are very skilled at their tasks.

My heart goes to those that tried, but my admiration and love for Spellbinder knows she that will bring her crew home safely.

This may be edited later.

Update as of 1900GMT - 15.08.07  this evening.

57 yachts remaining in race.

Spellbinder (my love) is 51st.

The Super Maxi (100ft) Leopard 3 broke the record by 8hrs plus. But on time correction came 2nd!!!

[Fran]

I have been keeping an eye on them all day lefty......they are doing well to be still running!


Looks like the weather is calming down a bit now too - hope they are soon round the rock and on their way home.

F. 

[Leftie]

I have been keeping an eye on them all day lefty......they are doing well to be still running!


Looks like the weather is calming down a bit now too - hope they are soon round the rock and on their way home.

F. 

Thanks Fran,

I'll pass on your good wishes to the crew.

It'l need a lot of drying out before I take it to CI and St Marlo/Dinan.

But many thanks again.

I txt'd the crew earlier,

Jerry

[fagey]

It'l need a lot of drying out before I take it to CI and St Marlo/Dinan.

A nice poodle down the rance river this time of year is fantastic.. there are lots of boats down there at the moment

[keithk]

Back in the seventies I spent all my spare time sailing Tuesday and Thursday night and every weekend from April till November, I at that time lived in Cowes and raced just about everything that I could Flyingfifteens, 470's 505's, wayfarer's, 1/4 ton, 1/2 ton, one tone and 2 ton displacement, maxis and  "J" (Velsheda) I was on the 79 Fastnet yes it was a little "lumpy" we broke the Carbon rudder off somewhere south of the Rock and limped back to Cowes without it......Not sailed much in the last few years still have the sea in my blood.....

[Fran]

"J" (Velsheda)

EXTREMELY jealous!

Fanciest one in my back catalogue is a 50ft Swan which had gold taps/bathroom fittings etc and custom made monogrammed cutlery and china!  The Cuppa-soup was brought up on deck in a fancy hand crafted wooden mug holder.  We were doing some crewing for corporate racing weekend in Jersey.  (You know the kinda thing - 3 proper crew doing all the work and a bunch of hungover Ford Motor Company toffs getting in the way).  We  were so much faster than the rest of the boats that everytime we crossed the line first we got sent around for a few more laps until someone else came "first"!!!  I made sure I got the special stamped entry in my logbook tho! 

(Forget the name now tho..... and lord knows where my logbook is these days )

F

[keithk]

Yes I would get "asked" to do corporate days when I worked for Plessey Defence systems, Cowes week was always a hoot they lease some oversized gin palace with sod all idea of how to sail, so muggings here get a couple of mates scream up and down the Solent have fun while all the "invited" guests drank lots of shampoo and got sick, we always had a great time. Took one group of sorry rich very sick boys and girls all the way to Le Harve and back most of them didn't know they were out of the Solent....

[Fran]

drank lots of shampoo and got sick

Oh yes - always plenty of that!!! And the hypothermia setting in cos they wouldnt wear any oilies!!
 

F