Night fever

2010-12-08T11:02:00.001Z

Please go to dandytchoceanracing.com to follow my new wesite!

Changing Address

2010-11-25T21:39:00.002Z

It is an exciting time for me and the Mini Transat at the moment. Part of this will mean a change to my blog. I am in the process of changing all the information to my new site dandytchoceanracing.blogspot.com. All my information and blogging will now be posted on this address!

2010-11-09T09:29:00.002Z

At moment I'm busy working putting some money together for next season. I'm also spending a lot of time organizing and preparing the new boat and logistics for 2011.

I am dingy sailing whilst back in the UK to keep my sailing brain working hard, mainly an RS400 but this last weekend I sailed an RS Elite with Keith that I did the Mini Fastnet with. The boats are very interesting. We finished second (by a few seconds) in a very competitive fleet, it was great considering we have never sailed the boat before.

Plans for the next few weeks involve the Paris Boat Show, where we can pay for the entry to the Transatlantic and we also have the Mini AGM and class party. In the same trip I hope to get back to Lorient to check on Night Fever and with any luck, if everything is organized with the new boat head down to La Rochelle to take the new boat to Lorient.

For Sale

2010-10-19T09:08:00.003+01:00

IT'S OFFICIAL- Night Fever 312 is FOR SALE

Villenave 2001

Night Fever is ready to race.The boat had a large re-

fit in 2009-2010. I have taken part in the 2010 series, racing in the Demi Cle, Select, Map, Fastnet and Les Sables-Azores-Les Sable and had a great season.

Hull Airex/epoxy 2006 CLP Marine, Carbon Mast and 2 stage boomerang spreaders, carbon boom Profile composites, carbon bow sprit AMCO, carbon rudders AMCO, carbon out riggers AMCO.

PBO rigging, DSK 75/78 running rigging, All purpose sails, NKE Electronics, safety and security kit, Max Power fuel cell.

32,000 Euro

312 Night Fever A Vendre

Villenave 2001

Night Fever est prêt à courir. Reconditionné en 2009-2010.

J’ai participé en 2010 aux courses Demi Cle, Sélect, Map, Fastnet et Les Sables-Les Açores-Les Sables et ai passé une excellente saison.

Coque Airex/époxy 2006 CLP Marine, mât carbone

(2 étages de barres de Flèches boomerang. Bôme carbone Profil Composite,1 bout-dehors carbone AMCO, 2 Outrigger AMCO, 2 safrans carbone AMCO.

Gréement PBO, Gréement courant DSK 75/78. Voiles All Purpose, électronique NKE, armement sécurité complet, Max Power Combustible.

32,000 Euro

For more information and inventory

email- ddsailing@hotmail.com or tel +447753632163

Soitec

2010-10-16T17:41:00.003+01:00

So the big news... I have been to look at a new boat for the 2011 season.

Prototype 617 Soitec, built in 2005 at d'ISOTOP marine and designed by Axel de Beaufort, it is the first Nacira.

The boat has had some excellent results, finishing 3rd and 5th in the last 2 Transatlantics.

Fingers crossed I can take over as the new skipper for Soitec.

Back In France

2010-10-10T11:00:00.002+01:00

I have a lot f traveling since I last wrote. After the trials I was straight off back to the med to join the Wally again. After a few days setting up we were ready for Les Voile de St. Tropez.

We had a great weeks racing, with a mixed bag of result and finally finishing 5th out of 11. The best thing was the crew work all came together and we were sailing the boat to its full potential.

Now I am back in West France, currently in La Rochelle to visit a friend Will Carson who is the reporter for the Velux 5 Oceans Race. They are busy getting ready for the start on the 17th October. Tonight I head to Les Sable to reunite with Night Fever and finish packing her up for the road trip back to Lorient, where i will base over winter. Then I have plan to help a Classe 40 prepare for the start of the Route de Rhum. So busy time again!

I have had some exciting news regarding sponsorship but I am keeping it under wraps until the details are clarified....

Artemis

2010-09-19T17:09:00.002+01:00

I've just finished 3 days of trails for the Artemis Offshore Academy in the Figaro's in Weymouth. It was an interesting few days but unfortunately we have been asked to not give away any detail until the last group have finished next week.

Also to the right I have started a new photo folder from the Wally.

Post Wally

2010-09-13T17:28:00.002+01:00

I've just got back to the UK after Porto Cervo. I had a great week, we didn't have our best racing but everything came together on the last day, so we're looking good going in to the next event Le voile de St. Tropez in 2 weeks.

While I'm back in the UK I have the Artemis trials for the Figaro and hopefully some RS400 racing.

I have loaded some more photos from the Azores race, if you click on the small scrolling photos on the right you can make them larger for a proper look.

Thanks and Dark Shadow

2010-08-29T21:28:00.004+01:00

Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to Laurence Caille, she has been an absolute star helping Ryan and I before and after the Azores, feeding us, washing for us and letting us use here house. Its made life so much easier and taken all the race stress away.

Now I'm back to the Wally. I'm stuck in the airport in Nantes until 7am so thought I just add a picture if Dark Shadow to show the contrast of the sailing. Its crazy the Mini would fit on the foredeck of the Wally and ropes I use as halyards they use as lashing to tie bits up in the container. Its a different world.

2010-08-27T09:46:00.001+01:00

I’m back in the civilised world, well France anyway….

I’m sad to say I’m disappointed with the race back from the Azores.

I got off to a great start in very light breeze I managed to keep with the front few boats. Going into the first night I decided to opt for a shorter course more on the rhum line than the routing had suggested. This paid off and the 2^nd day I was in 2^nd position with a long gap behind. But in the second night as the breeze came up my problems began. Through the night all 3 spinnakers I have ripped! The worst thing was that it wasn’t down to human error or trying to push to hard, they just started disintegrating.

So I had another 6 days of downwind sailing with no spinnakers, trying to soak down with a code 0. It was very painful; especially knowing the rest of the fleet would be flying along.

I changed my tactics and tried to sail the best route to be most I range for the 0 but it was hard with the wind direction.

I was sure I’d be one of the last boats back but I ended up doing okay somehow. There are still boats coming in. I’ll find out official results soon.

Now, some busy days packing the boat away on the trailer and getting it ready to take either back to Lorient or the UK. Then off to Dark Shadow in Sardinia for the Maxi Worlds.

On my way back!

2010-08-16T20:57:00.003+01:00

So the holiday is over and we're heading back to France tomorrow.

The weather is looking in a great direction, mainly reaching and downwind, but it is looking very light at times with many wind holes along the route. The general plan is to stay North of rhum line to try and get the edge of the good breeze.

The routing predicts a 26th finish. I'm feeling very positive, its defiantly a race for the newer prototypes but some hard work and no more breakages, I think I can do well. Top 10 here I come! Next blog from back in France!

Return weather

2010-08-14T10:31:00.004+01:00

The weather is looking great for the return leg. The Azores high is normally very stable meaning the return sail is against the trade wind beating back to France. For the mini that's slow and boring, but it looking like the high changes on the 17/18th and could give us a lot of reaching maybe even some downwind on the way back.

Not the fastest conditions for Night Fever but happy for a good forecast. Its great news because I need to have Night Fever back and packed away by the 30th so I can head to Dark Shadow.

The repairs have all gone according to plan, sails are back and I even have a new jockey pole (made from the end of a wind surfer mast). We have the prologue race today here where we take out some local guys on our boats, its a good chance to test all the repairs.

I made it.....

2010-08-10T15:53:00.002+01:00

So leg 1 is complete and I'm enjoying the sunny Azores!

What a race, so many highs and lows!

I had a great start off the line in around 20knots crossing the line in the top few but had no time to take on ballast for the short 1 mile upwind leg (they start us upwind for safety), so got knocked having to spill wind with a tippy boat.

We rounded the mark, next stop Horta Azores. Out of the Bay of Biscay was perfect conditions for the big code zero, which I left behind because we have an 8 sail allowance and my code 5 covers almost the same wind ranges. So I wasn't overly fast coming out of Biscay, but thought my time would come rounding Finisterre with more wind and the 5.

We rounded the corner of North West Spain and I went far South to try and get in the big breeze and catch up some positions. It was going great and I was sailing hard and fast, but the breeze kept building. I had around 25-30 knots so reduce to the medium spi, as soon as it filled it exploded in 2 pieces. So I went to the code 5. It was great. The boat was going well and was very stable so I got some much needed sleep. I woke up with the boat in mid broaching laying on its side, I went on deck to find the code 5 in pieces, a missing jockey pole, the spi pole at the wrong end of the boat and dragging in the water and the push pit unattached. So begun a 4 hour period of repairs by night. God bless head torches!

The repairs went well and I got the boat back together but the big problem was I now had no medium spinnakers which were the sails I'd need for the next 3 days. It was very painful and played strange trick with my mind knowing I had to sail for so long on the wrong sail and let the fleet disappear into the distance. I was patient and changed my tactics to allow me to go a future route but fly the big and only spi all the way to the islands. It worked well, everyday by radio we get everyone distance to the finish and I was rapidly catch and overtaking boats.

Arrival to the islands was interesting, I had spent a lot of time on routing for the race but not much time on the routing through the islands, so I went for the simple tactic that it would be faster to sail a little further but stay on the windward side of the island as they are towering mountains. It worked well and ended up being the fastest and most common route, the only thing I did differently to most was cut inside 1 island as I thought there would be wind acceleration due to the wind angle. There was but then a period of choppy light breeze in the lee so think it made little difference.

I ended up finishing where I had hoped I would without the breakages, with the other old protos but ahead of the series boat. I actually beat many boats I was not expecting too. Considering all my drama's I'm relatively happy.

What I learnt and what I happy with; I need to be more conservative on the longer races and take down more sail as the breeze comes up, especially if I'm sleeping with the pilots on, its all about being consistent. I need to make more planning for the whole route not just the tactical side. And mentally you can't let problem get you down you have to be positive and work to your strength.
I was very with my tactical decisions, especially after my breakages to get the most from the boat. And its nice to know I can sail fast when I need to and take out miles from the faster boats.

The guys from Horta have been so helpful with repairs, the marina manager even said "Don't worry your problems are now my problems and everything will be fixed". Just what I wanted to hear. So a week to relax and prepare on the islands then hopefully an uneventful return trip but it looks like it will be upwind!

Departure

2010-07-31T20:54:00.003+01:00

A quick final message before I leave. I'm in my camp bed in the car, after just having a great steak and lots of vegetable, a final hearty meal before getting stuck into the freeze dried. I am all ready, the boat is packed, the weather routing is done and I'm feeling all set. A good nights rest and straight into it tomorrow.

For the race tracker, the easiest way to find it is to go to the race website http://www.lessables-lesacores.com/, its in French but on the right hand side if you scroll down to this logo and click it will re-direct you. So fingers cross and au revoir France Ola Les Azores!

Pre Les Sables-Azores

2010-07-27T20:00:00.003+01:00

Everyone has arrived and we are well underway with the briefings and safety checks for the first leg of this seasons major event, from Les Sables d'Olonne to Horta on Ilha do Faial in the Azores. The Leg is around 1300Nm.

Unfortunately the number of competitors is not as many as was hoped. There are around 35 boats taking place. It is going to be a very tight fleet as it is only the most competitive boats that have entered, so the standard will be very high.

The weather has looked very stable up to now with the Azores high doing what it should, but thinks are looking as if they may change before our start on the 1st August. I have been running daily routing programs and making detailed pressure logs to analyse which will be the fastest route, this is how it is looking so far.

I will write again with an update before the start with the link for the race tracker.

A Strange Delivery

2010-07-22T17:09:00.003+01:00

What a bizarre trip, planning times on the mini is very difficult. With no engine and a boat that does between 5-20 knots, your very weather dependent. Before I leave I always use a weather routing program call Maxsea that takes wind speeds, angle, tidal info etc into consideration and give you a target route, speeds and timing.

The routing said 17 hours, not including messing around at the dock both ends so I planned for 20 hours... it took 10 hours. With great code zero conditions. This would normally be a great thing, but I was heading to Les Sables, that had a very tight high walled channel that you are forbidden to sail up, even if it was physically possible. So you have to contact by radio for a tow if you have no engine. Great if you arrive between 6am and 10pm. I didn’t!

When I had 30 miles left to go I started to do something I have never done on the boat before and slow down. First I dropped the zero , then I took a reef and finally dropped the jib too. So I had 12 knots of breeze and just a reefed main, but for some reason Night Fever the rock ship didn’t want to slow down and we were still doing 7-8 knots SOG. I ended up arriving a 2am and doing circles for 4 hours till I could contact the marina.

I only hope that I’m going too fast in the race!

It didn’t stop there, I was all tied up by 7 and there were people everywhere by the boat, I thought it was very kind of them to make such a fuss but I’d only come from Lorient, then the penny dropped as I saw a procession of boats leading the Mini Transat sailed by Alessandro Di Benedetton. He had just completed his solo round the world. Here are a few pictures, you can barely make out the mini under as the modification. My favourite is he broke his mast and rather than throwing it away he lashed it to the front of the bow sprit to make the longest pole you’ve ever seen. Congratulations to him!

Ocean Works

2010-07-20T16:34:00.002+01:00

2 Blogs in 1 day, I want to say a big thank you to Claes Richter at Ocean Works for the sponsorship of new wet weather gear and polo shirts for the Azores race. The kit looks great, very technical. I look forward to putting it to the mini test, starting tomorrow.

Lost in Translation

2010-07-20T10:53:00.003+01:00

I had a funny French and English situation today. Up to now I have been racing under FRE sails as the boat was already registered in France, but recently I found out I could have GBR and keep the boat registration the same.

When we were working on my new jib, I cut new GBR to bring back and put on the sails. Today I laid out all my sails in the French Mini clubhouse where I keep the boat and pulled off the FRE’s and replaced with GBR’s, but I hadn’t realised how many of the locals were looking with dismay at what I was up too. Oops all that I could have done to be less subtle was have the national anthem blaring in the background…. Nice work on the foreign relation!

Other updates, I had no problems with the ECG test so I have the all clear on the medical side. And I am waiting in Lorient today for a package to arrive but if there is no sign of it by tomorrow morning I will leave for Les Sables anyway.

I also I have started my detailed weather analysis for the start of the Azores, getting daily forecasts and running different routing options. It looks like the Azores high has started to do what it is supposed. Hopefully it will remain stable and make the routing simple. The general plan will be beating out of Les Sable to lay Finisterre, Spain before heading south of rum line and coming in fast to the Azores... but all could change.

Azores Preparation

2010-07-10T08:45:00.002+01:00

Its been a few weeks since my last post, I'm now back in Lorient after delivering my boat and 772 back from Douarnenez. I have been sail testing with my much needed new jib, which I'm very happy with. Thanks to Conrad and Gerry from Medina Sailcare.

I have also been working through all dream list jobs I wanted to do before the Azores. Fitting stacking lee cloths for all the kit and water to be properly positioned for downwind surfing. Working on a new adjustable bobstay so I can get better code 5 luff tension. Some new electronics and lots of rope work repairing bit after the Fastnet.

My big job that left on the boat is NKE and pilot cal liberation, so early next week I plan to head offshore for a few nights to do lots of sail changes and electronics testing.

I have also been doing some work on mini 772, helping to get Ulf Branstroms boat ready for his 1000Nm qualifier.

I am feeling very happy with the boat and I am close to ready for the Azores, I have to go for the ECG and stress test medical next week and will then think heading down to Les Sables.

Now I just need to spend a lot of time planning and looking at weather/routing so I have an idea of which way I'm going in the race.... it always helps!

Thumbs Up From Classe Mini

2010-06-29T16:55:00.001+01:00

I have had my 1000Nm qualification confirmed and am now official able to take part in the Azores race and next years transat. What a relief!

2010-06-27T00:59:00.005+01:00

I had an interview on local radio Solent on Friday. I have had some problems up loading the link after the show was removed from Podcast but now there is a link to You Tube. The Link to my segment is on the right or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSOUOHOpNdY

The Mini Fastnet

2010-06-21T17:04:00.002+01:00

The Fastnet is done and what a great race, the first event of this season with proper breeze and a big fleet.

I was sailing Keith Willis also from Lymington. We set off with close to 80 boats on the start line and a beat out of Douarnenez bay in medium breeze. We had great leg sticking close to the Northern shore. Next we cracked off and headed north inside Oussant Island and main land France, just beating the tide.

It started to rain and was very obviously the start of predicted low pressure front, meaning big breeze was close. As night fell the we began the beat across the English Channel and the breeze kept building. As the wind increased we took more and more reefs until it got the max of around 34 knots, with very typical English Channel short step waves. Not comfy in a downwind 21ft rocket.

We had a few breakages in the night, the main halyard block exploded, we got a rip in the main sail head which meant we had to take reefs earlier than I would have normally liked to and the biggest problem was snapping the jib halyard fitting and losing the halyard inside the rig. I went up the mast to try and resolve the problem but there was nothing I could do, so we ended up using the fractional spinnaker halyard to hoist the jib. This worked sufficiently but crossed over the PBO rigging and had potential to chafe through the forestay and drop the rig if we did not change sides during every tack. This made tacking a very slow and long process, drop the jib, untie the halyard, tack, re-tie and hoist. Not racing stuff. Due to this we were pushing the tacks as long as possible, this meant we went to far North and missed a valuable wind shift, so in real terms sailing more mile than we had to and giving away a lot of positions at Wolf rock off Lands End. Unfortunately this changed our whole race, which we didn’t find out until later.

We entered the Irish Sea and headed for Fastnet, the wind slowly shifted and dropped, to allow us to go full sail, to zero and finally the spinnaker. We approach the rock in light breeze, rounded and went back to the jib before the wind shut down. We managed to keep up some pace unlike many boat around and claw back many positions. The wind shifted and allowed us to put up the Spi again and was due to build. As it was so light all we could do was head south, rather than SE to sail round the wind hole. We were happy with this as forecast was for the wind to build back to 30 knots from the NW, which would allow us to keep the Spi up all the way home and fly back.

The breeze did build but only got round as far as North. We had some great hours sailing in perfect mini condition, 26 knots breeze, big kite, surfing waves 16 knots boat speed. But the forecast let us down and went back to the NE and dropped meaning we struggled to get back to rum line and hold the Spi.

As we got to French side of English Channel the breeze dropped and we got ready for our final night. I had seen a group of 5 boats ahead in the distance and made it my mission to get home before them.

The return course went outside on the West of Oussant before heading back into the bay of Dourenez. With the code five then zero we managed to get all 5 boats through the night but it did involve a lot of hard sailing, patients and no sleep!

The last 15 miles in the bay turned into a light wind beat, and finally less than 5 miles away from home with the finish in sight the wind shut off completely. We ended up very slowly creeping towards the line and finally crossed t around 9am Friday morning, with a strange sail configuration with the main and jib goose-winged on the opposite tack to catch the breeze.

When we got back there were more boats home than I hoped. I went and I started up the race tracker and analysing the race straight away. The long tack north in the big breeze had cost us dearly. Not just the extra miles on the corner but the knock on effect was that we just missed all the good breeze, the boats just ahead, had good wind all the way to Fastnet and had rounded and got the forecast big downwind conditions all the way back.

A good lesson to be learnt! The best news for me after the Fastnet is that I have now completed more than necessary mileage for the qualification process. So as soon as I get confirmation from Classe Mini I can start preparing for the Azores on the 1^st of August.

2010-06-12T07:42:00.004+01:00

I'm getting ready for the Fastnet. There is a great turn out, 72 boats here to race, in the photo you can see how they've packed all the little racce boats in a small fish port.

Today we have the Prolog, inshore small race. Really for the guys with big sponsors to for a media day, but also a good chance to do some final checks and tests before tomorrows big start.

I had a fun day yesterday, the mini Transat Mare.de, has just chartered a Class 40 for the Route de Rum. He needed to take some media photos of both boats so I went out on the mini. Its a great boat, one of the newest and top in the fleet. It was perfect mini conditions for downwind and was great fun flying past the 40 with the Spi up.

For the Fastnet start tomorrow there is a race tracker again, the address is http://www.winchesclub.com/minis650/fastnet650/FR-25-1-1--

The MAP

2010-06-07T12:57:00.005+01:00

An idea of the tides at Pointe Raz that we race through.

Some close racing contact as we approach the first upwind spreader mark, (I'm not sure the guy in the red boat really understand the race rules, barging in on Port tack....)

Another light and shifty race, I'm starting to wonder how the bay of Biscay got it reputation!

It was a hard race, light out of the Bay of Douarnenez. I went right for wind and many went left inshore for the tide, but we all ended up at the Raz at the same time, trying to fight 6 knots of tide in light wind, it was like a boat car park!

Many guys dropped anchor, but I persisted with trying to make any gain, and it paid of as I was one of the first to break free. Then there was a tight reach south through the night. In the early hours the wind shifted to a beat. In the night when I went for a sleep I got a fishing buoy around the keel and it took almost a hour to get free and involved a scary experience, getting wet.

The whole next day we beat South East round Ile de Groix to Birvideaux light house. As I rounded the bottom mark there was a 180 degree wind shift which meant beating all the way North West back home. I'm sure the mini is all about surfing down waves in big breeze.... not this season, roll on the Transat. The wind filled in at night and I went hard west and had a tough, proper offshore sail and made some good distance, although some of the locals had a sneaky trick up their sleeve and snuck through a shoal area and cut off miles!

I just missed the tidal gate to get back through the Raz, which meant another tough fight but this time it was a lot rougher. A group of us took it in turns to have a go at breaking through the passages wave and current, finally I was the first to get through. All though it was scary at time and very close to land it was really exciting and a great feeling to get through.

The final sail back down the bay was great, finally some down wind sailing with some breeze, I went for the wrong kite to start so was fighting had with 3 peels but had some great speed and surfing.

I finish 12th Proto, not a great result but with all the problems I had I am still happy. I had technical problems, including electronics melt down, water-ballast pump breaking, and my encounter with the fishing buoy. And to be honest I made some debatable decision.

Next week is the Fastnet, I'm really looking forward to it and think it has the potential to be the race of the season. The weather is unfortunately looking light again. This is a double-hander and Keith Willis also from Lymington is traveling out to sail with me.

MAP

2010-06-02T17:42:00.001+01:00

I'm in Douarnenez now preparing the boat and doing the security control checks for my next event that leaves tomorrow, Thursday 3rd of June called the Trophee Marie Agnes Peron or as all the English speakers call it the MAP.

Its a strange event as we are all here for the Mini Fastnet that starts next week, this is really a warm-up/training race. The important thing is to finish with the boat in good condition for the Fastnet. But saying that as soon as we start I'm sure it will be full on.

The weather is looking light and variable.... There's a surprise!

To track the race you can go to http://www.winchesclub.com/minis650/map/FR-25-1-1--

Final approach to Douarnenez

2010-05-30T15:00:00.003+01:00

I made it!

2010-05-27T13:37:00.003+01:00

I'm back from the 1000Nm qualifier, or as it should be called the 1000Nm drift.

Here a small break down of the trip,

Day 1- Strangely I started with a 25 knot beat out of Lorient North, but the wind soon shut down and I was becalmed just heading into the English channel.

Day 2- The best days sailing. In the morning the breeze picked up and I had a spinnaker run across the channel to Lands End and sailed between the Scilly's and the main land through the night.

Day 3- A very light day but made progress with the code zero through the Irish Sea.

Day 4- In light wind and drizzle at first light I rounded the first mark Coningberg of the Irish coast. Then a hard day with loads of sail changes back South.

Day 5- The breeze built all night and I had a hard sail back across the channel in typical English Channel choppy seas and 28 knots of breeze, close hauled but one tack all the way.

Day 6- A glamours day South down the French coast with constant breeze, sun and the code zero up, ate up a lot of miles.

Day 7-Arrived to Rochebonne the furthest Westerly mark at first light, once agin,very light. Then a beat in toward La rochelle to round Ile de Re. Only made 50 Nm in the whole day.

Day 8- I drifted all the way round and under the bridge in the early hours. The breeze built and I started back north with a kite. Soon the breeze started to clock around until I ended up tight with the zero. And once again it dropped off at night.

Day 9- Light start on the jib but the wind veered and allowed me to go back past Lorient with the zero. Technically I had completed my loop and so the 1000Nm, but as I have a race next week further north, so I decided to keep heading up the coat and deliver to Douarnenez. What a fool another 150 miles in no wind, gluten for punishment!

To get to Douarnenez there are 2 routes, around an island or between the gap in huge tides, I checked all the tidal info and it was with me to nip through but it would be tight. I had a few painful hours in no breeze and loads of current thinking I wasn't going to make it in time. But I just snuck through. I had a lovely down wind sail in bright sunshine to finally arrive and step off the boat a 8.15 PM.

So just over 9 days to do 1150Nm pretty good going. 1 big race, the Mini Fastnet and I'm qualified for the Azores and more importantly the 2011 Transat!

1000Nm Qualifier

2010-05-16T17:23:00.003+01:00

The day has finally come to head off on my 1000Nm qualifier. Its strange a long time before I even owned Night Fever I knew all about the 1000Nm qualification process and that one day I would be heading off to tick the box. Well now its here!

Its a strange concept because it's the only time your not racing/delivering/training in the boat so there is lots of extra kit you can take, but at the same time you want to be in race mode as much as possible to knock off the mile.

Most of the guys seem to dread the whole process but I'm really looking forward to 7-14 days away getting offshore miles in. I do have a slight time constraint as I have to be at the pre-race arrival in 2 weeks for the next race, but there's plenty of time.

The course is from Lorient up to a mark off Cork Ireland, then back down around a buoy off La Rochelle and round the Island, finally back up to Lorient. I won't stop and will keep heading North to the start of the race near Breast.

Finger crossed!

Dark Shadow Portofino

2010-05-12T11:10:00.003+01:00

Back to the Wally 100 for the first of this years Med racing.

We did the event in Performance Cruising category which was a first for us because the boat has come straight for Genoa boat show and is now off cruising. So we raced with the cruising kit and short handed with 10 crew (we normally race with 25-27 people). It was really good fun but not the fastest setup.

It was a strange event with, hardly any breeze the first 2 days and then very breezy on day 3. It was exciting for me as I was doing bow for starts and maneuvers and then running back (which is quiet a long run all day) to help with tactics and decision making.

Looking forward to the next event, the Maxi world in Porto Cervo.

Next installment

2010-04-30T19:44:00.002+01:00

So the first night was a long beat around the back of Belle ile where I seemed slow and lost a few places. In the early hours I spotted the wind-clocking round and hoisted the zero before the boats around me. Up to this point the pilot had been ok but not great, it finally gave up and stopped AGAIN.

I had a challenging peel to the big kite with no auto helm but when I was set it worked well. I got into a line of boats mainly the series all plodding one behind the other not really fighting for position but just soaking to the mark, after a while I got frustrated and heated up hard and headed away from the pack miles offshore, and gybed back in, late in the afternoon, a bit worried about the gamble. It paid off and I had made back all the positions I had lost over the night. It felt good.

We rounded at the south point of the course and started the long beat up north around Ile D’Yeu and into the second night. I was holding my position well and pointing higher than the boats around me. I made the decision to tack over early and a big group came with me and went offshore. It was a bad call. I should have followed the coast and then the island for as long as possible and rounded tight like the local guys.

I finally had to get some sleep, and its easiest to balance the boat to self steer up wind. When I woke up I couldn't see any other boats at all. I had seen lots going inshore and it crossed my mind that everyone else had heard there was a shortened course at the bottom mark (as was disgust at the briefing if the wind report didn't improve) and they had caught a tidal gate while I was asleep and gone home. It was dawn so I kept going on my course and waited for morning.

As soon as the sun rose the wind shut off completely. More drifting in zero wind and with the extra stress that I was the only one still out. At lunch time I was going crazy thinking I was either dead last or on my own out in no wind. I had a good talking to myself and decided I had 2 choices, head in or go all the way in little breeze on my own. I decided to give it my all and keep working hard to keep the boat moving and if it meant days of extra sailing on my own then that fine, it would be great training. I also had time to go below and have a good go at repairing the much simple back up pilot that also hadn't worked. Success, I had a Baxter (the pilot) back again. I got some more sleep on deck now the boat could steer and waited for the breeze to fill in. Around 1600 I felt the breeze and was up like a shot. I had a great evening beating round Belle Ile, then reaching to Goix. At both islands we were to report to the light house to relay our positions and that we were okay. I asked if they had any news about the shortened course and cheekily if many boats had passed. They explained there had been a lot of confusion about the course but we were still racing and that I was doing well and up in the first half of the fleet. It was a huge boost and I sailed as hard as I could for the rest of the night to catch anyone I could on the way back down to Pornichet. By morning I could see lots of boats again and started to pick them off as we beat back home in light wind and big swell, painful but Night Fever is fast in the light stuff, so I guess its good for me. Then around 30 miles from home it happened again, as the heat rose the breeze died. I concentrated as hard as I could to keep the boat going while others had stopped, and chased any little puff I could see. It work, I overtook the group I had found, the wind clocked again and allowed us to put code 5's up, it was a really tight angle so the boat started moving fast in such little breeze. Coming to the finish with only a few miles the breeze dropped completely and the windex was doing the horrible thing where it swings round and round as there is no apparent wind but I kept the code 5 up and used it as a wind seeker, I had a horrible last couple of mile where I could see the finish but couldn't soak to it for fear of losing any momentum and stopping. I crossed just ahead of the group, but still had no real idea of position.

I as towed into the marina to not find many boat. Great maybe 20 ahead of me so well in top half of the fleet. I reported straight to the office to find out I was being protested. I ended up with a time penalty for having poorly visible nav lights, very disappointing as I lost some place in the results (especially because they had a nav light check and I passed but they were poor when I was having power problem with the pilot the 2nd night). So on the up side I was happy to not be thrown out of the race and keep my qualifying miles. And still ended up in the top half of the fleet.

2nd Outing

2010-04-28T16:12:00.003+01:00

Wow what a tough race, lots of short tight legs so no real sleeping time.... so very tired now.

I had a dream start, got the exact position I wanted on the line. I promised myself I'd take it easy but got the dinghy competitiveness as soon as the start sequence started. I went hard left for the breeze off the line and the locals all went right to the beach and tide (local knowledge again), I ended up in the top few to the top mark, felt good to beat the top end boats, but the tables turned as we rounded the mark for the first power reach, we all hoisted zeros, the new boats canted their keels and I disappeared down below to pump water into my ballast tanks, by the time I came back up they were gone. So I had a few strange hours, a head of all the production boats but behind the new weapons on the way up to Birvideaux.

It closing time in marina office so I'm getting booted out, to be continued tomorrow!

Race Number One

2010-04-21T13:14:00.003+01:00

Race number one turned out to be a very long 150Nm with super light wind and a lot of local knowledge.

A late course change the morning of the race and then a shortened course at the started made for a high stress start to the race. We were working out the course as we went into the starting sequence, which is never fast... So we ended up in bad breeze going over the line and had to tack away. We had a productive beat before bearing away and hoisting the lager kite, The Whomper. We had a great long reach up the inside of Ile de Gouix, weaving our way up through the fleet and getting into a respectable position. Then we had an error, pushing hard and trying to beat the French guys in their own backyard we went to close to the Island and touched the bottom. Very nerve racking but no damage, we carried on and got back into the race.

Then the wind stopped, we had a short down wind and a lead group managed to open a gap, we were just behind in a small group, the rest of that day was spent looking for wind on the horizon and keeping very still trying to get to the top end of the course at the Glens.

We turned the corner around midnight and started upwind with a little more breeze. It was a light but pleasant morning keeping our strong position. We then reach plateau de Four and took the corner very wide after our close touch early on and allow a small group to sneak inside before the long beat to the finish. Then the breeze stopped at midday, 0, nothing!

Finally after some painful hours we had a little breeze from behind and spent the rest of the afternoon gybing from side to side at huge angles trying to build some apparent but not getting much closer to the finish. A few of the other boats went pole right back, dead down wind and just pointed at the finished which worked for them but not on my boat, so a couple more snuck through, very frustrating but every boat has its conditions. We finally crossed the finish line slowly at around 6pm.

So a hard tactical race which required a lot of local knowledge, but we sailed well and had good boat speed, a good starting point, we ended up with 18th out of 40. Lots to work on but a good learning curve.

Time to leave Lorient already...c

2010-04-13T20:23:00.004+01:00

Today I got the final jobs done onboard, with lots of help from my co-skipper Ryan Finn who is taking part in the Demi-Cle with me.

The boat is ready to sail and early tomorrow we set off on first short sail across the bay to Locmiquelic. In the afternoon I have the boat inspection for the first race. They are very strict at the beginning of the year, so finger crossed everything is in order.

Then we base there for a few days to get in some training and final tweaks before the big day on Saturday.

In The Water

2010-04-11T07:56:00.004+01:00

Its been a long time coming but finally Night Fever is back where she should be, back in the water.

I've been down to the Med to earn some much needed cash and now back getting ready for the first race next weekend. It hasn't all been plain sailing, had some unforeseen problems but there all on the way to being sorted and the boats actually starting to feel ready to sail and not like a building site.

The first race, the Demi Cle starts from Locmiquelic (just across the bay from Lorient) and is a short 150 Nm dash South to Pornichet. Its a 2 handed race (crewed by Ryan Finn, USA) and is more of a feeder race for the Pornichet Select that starts the following week, which I am also entered into.

I will get some photos of the boat in the water over the next few days and get them up online, but for now back to the work list.

Leaving Foggy Lymo Town

2010-03-24T21:22:00.002Z

The big day finally came. Today I packed up all the kit and headed out of Lymington with the boat in tow. Now I’m on the ferry and the tiredness from the last few months has suddenly hit me and a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Its time to put the boat back where it should be and go sailing again!

I want to say a few more thanks, to everyone at Berton for all the help and space to work on the boat especially Chris, Kevin and Pete from the paint shed and Kim from the office. And to all of my mates and family, for all the support over the last few months.

The plan now, is to drive (very slowly) from St. Malo to base in Lorient, then to work on my boat for another week or so, doing all the fine-tuning and setting up the rig. Next a quick trip to Dark Shadow in St.Remo. Then straight back into training and my first event the Demi Cle on the 17^th of April, I can’t wait!

Then it’s all about hours on the water. But first the longest sleep I’ve had in a long time, even if it is on the ferry

Many Thanks

2010-03-18T17:49:00.002Z

I have had a very successful day today, lots of organising and flying about but think are definatley coming together.

Where to begin, thank you to Viking liferaft for the sponsorship and quick organising of the raft to take away with me. Thanks to Adrian from Marine Ware for all the support. And to Nick Cox Chandlery in Lymington with supplying me with a set of race halyards. And Will Carson for another great report in the echo. EC_201003...PDF.

I also had a nice email sent through, the boat I raced on in America last season made the cover/post for Rolex New York Yacht Club regatta and has a nice action shot of me on the bow. http://www.nyyc.org/gui/nyyc1/sailingevents/227/2010%20NYYC%20Race%20Week%20NOR%20final%20brochure.pdf

Not a bad day...

Coming Together

2010-03-14T21:05:00.005Z

Thing have really started to come together quickly now after so many long hard months. The deck gear (apart for the coach house roof redesign) is all back down where it should be... on deck and not in little plastic bags in big boxes in my garage. I have received some new posh clutch from James Hall from Spinlock.

The spares are looking great in there new matt black thanks to the expert help of Pete, who very kindly gave up a lot of his own time to spray for me.

There is now an official team van, well MPV to take back down to France. I have booked my ticket back on the 24th of March and will head down to Lorient with all the kit, to rig and start training.

The plans for this week are all the fun jobs, finish off my bits of carbon work I've been working on, fittng out the coach house, reinstalling the NKE electronic systems and I have the transfer guy coming to logo the boat, but generally things are looking very positive.

I just can't wait to get sailing now!

Hull Painting Finished

2010-03-03T18:54:00.003Z

Finally the hull paint work is finished. I'm very happy with the end result. The mast and all spars are preped and ready to be spray as well.

Now comes the big task of putting it all together. I'm going to have a dry fitting session tomorrow and then I'll be ready for the weekend to fit all the deck gear with another pair of hands.

2010-02-28T13:58:00.002Z

Another big important day yesterday. After a great deal of time preping and lining up my mast, the time came to stick on the new carbon mast track.

Everything went smoothly and the track bedded down well. A big thanks to Steve who came and gave me a hand for the day as it was defiantly a 2 person job.

I was very excited to go and see how it had gone today but unfortunately I am locked out of the shed so have to wait until tomorrow. Its good though, as it gives me time to catch up on all the paperwork and small jobs I need to do.

Tomorrow I hope to start on the finally section of paintwork, the deck grip paint.

Gloss Trim

2010-02-23T19:16:00.002Z

I finally finished knocking back the primer and today have painted all the areas that are going to have the snow white high gloss finish. A final coat tomorrow, and a couple of days to harden, then I'm all ready for the fine lining and grip painting. While all the paint work has been going on I have had time to fill in with building my new clear coat hatch and my new liferaft ram for in the transom. The mast track also arrived yesterday and looks great, things are finally starting to come together.

HMS Night Fever

2010-02-18T20:24:00.002Z

I am very happy to report that Night Fever now has battle ship grey decks, coach house roof and cockpit. I was wheeled into the shed at Berthon yesterday and taped up, cleaned and 545 primed the boat. I have to add how nice it is to be working in a warm shed.The primer hardened well over night and today I spent the day knocking it back with 400 grit.

Its always exciting to get painting, it makes such a big impact to the boat so quickly. I quite like the look of Night Fever in grey, very mean. I aim to have it all fully preped over the weekend and then ready for top coat next week. Then comes the rush to get it all back together asap and get sailing again...

2010-02-11T13:05:00.002Z

I want to say a big thank you to Howden’s Joinery of Lymington and especially Brad for being my first financial sponsors.

As for the boat it finally feels as if I’ve turned as massive corner. Things are starting to go back on the boat rather. The antifouling is on and smoothed. The many part that I sent away for repair, modification and updating are starting to arrive back. As soon as the boat is painted there's going to be a mad few days getting the boat back together. I can't wait!

Latest Progress

2010-01-14T20:33:00.002Z

Things are starting to really come together. The boat is preped and ready for painting, just have to wait for the temperature to come up a bit before painting and I hope today that I found a shed for the boat as well.

I had a great day at the boat show yesterday, getting some technical support I was after and working towards some sponsorship deals. Fingers crossed.

Working in the snow

2010-01-05T18:50:00.003Z

I have been working hard through the Christmas period and have managed to move on a lot further but not on in the order I was planning, as the weather has been so bad for laminating/ painting.
I have finally managed to get the patch all re-laminated and fared in, it took longer than normal as it was taking so long to get each layer to go off.
I have all the spars stripped down and prepared ready for painting, I just need to make a decision about keeping or replacing the mast track. I am still very keen to change it for a carbon track but have been taken back by the price of pre-made track so I am back thinking about laminating carbon tube and cutting a track. If any one has any recommendation it would be greatly appreciated.
Today I spent the day labelling/documenting/removing the NKE system to be sent back to the factory and tested for faults, to try and avoid anymore problems.
I am still hoping to rent a shed and move the boat as I am getting close to being ready to paint. Bring on some better weather and the end of the snow.

Re-fit Progress

2009-12-26T17:46:00.002Z

The re-fit is coming on rapidly, the deck gear is remove, paint from the decks, cockpit and capping rail is stripped off

After cutting and polishing the topsides I have decided that there is no need to paint them, they have come up very well and I am going to be better off using the money somewhere else. I have done a lot of filling and fairing

The deck soft spot is removed and on its way to being re-laminated, I removed the deck speakers and laminated the holes and inserted a piece to make the hatch base larger to make the rule change measurement.

I have been over on the Isle of wight working on a new Solent and almost finished.

Today I collected the paint, so finish the laminating and start the painting this week.

To be continued.....

Re-fit time

2009-12-14T06:27:00.003Z

I have brought Night Fever back to the UK and currently have it in Berthon yard undercover where I have stripped all of the deck gear and every fitting so that I can begin the big sanding session. It a shame to see her look so bear but its all for a good cause.

My work list consists of a full re-paint, hull, decks, bottom job, and all spars, to repair a section in the coach house roof that has taken some punishment, move some deck gear so I can fit a extra winch, build a new hatch and fit a new mast track. So enough to keep me busy.

I will keep the site updated with how I'm getting on and add a folder with photos of the work.

Fort Lauderdale

2009-11-22T14:22:00.002Z

We have finish the delivery down to Fort Lauderdale. I have a couple of days here before heading back to Europe, and straight down to collect Night Fever for the beginning of the refit. Exciting time. Keen to get back and get stuck into the work.

Newport to Miami

2009-11-08T13:47:00.002Z

I back in freezing cold Newport Rhode Island on the other side of the Atlantic to earn some well needed mini funds. Had just over a week setting up a new rig and organizing the boat I used to race on, Aquarius a Swan 601.

Now we are waiting for a good weather window to head south to Miami where the boat will spend it winter season.

Then I fly back to Europe and collect Night fever and start the refit. Can't wait

Sponsorship Proposal

2009-10-20T20:03:00.003+01:00

For all those that are interested I have finished my sponsorship proposal. There is a link to the right. All you have to do click the link, then click this icon

Night Fever Sponsor Proposal.pdf

Finally click "Click here to start download".

2009-10-08T12:11:00.002+01:00

After a month of being away racing in the Med on the Wally I am back with happy to be back with Night Fever. I return to collect the boat from Port Medoc and after some quick jobs that need taking care of, I delivered back up to Lorient.

The delivery was painfully slow with a lot of swell and around an average of 4 knot from dead behind, (not a good angle with that lighter wind, you end up gybing through huge angles to power up the boat and don't make much distance to location.

Then suddenly from know where a huge squall came through around an hour out of Lorint and I had winds of 25+knots, luckily when I saw the huge black storm clouds coming I dropped the Large kite.

Then boat is now out of the water and I am heading back to the UK to make a plan of where I am going to do the re-fit over winter

Port Medoc

2009-08-28T13:20:00.003+01:00

Great to finally be here for a race, it makes all the hard work worth it.

I had an excellent start to race, leading the fleet out of Port Medoc with two great Code zero runs. Next was a beat out of the estuary, before strating on the long reach down to Bayonne.

I had been having problems with the auto-pilot before the start but thought I could fix it once we got onto a straight leg. Unfortunately not long after the start, the whole electronics system failed and I was left to hand steer. This was not too bad for the start but once we were on the long leg the wind constantly changed and demanded rapid sail changes. The wind was coming from a very tricky direction to balance the boat for self steering, and every time I left the helm to attempt a change the boat would head up and flog in the wind or try and crash gybe, neither of which are fast. I persisted to hand steer for 24 hours and ran through the whole electronic system but to no success. Even with the problems I was still up in the front pack of boat and looking fast. But I had to except that I was done for this race. With great disappointment I turned back for Medoc.

It was a real set back to be out of the race and I was very angry for the first part of the sail back, but it gave me a good chance to reflect on the positives. I had a great start and great boat speed on the other competitor. I learnt a lot and now have more jobs for my ever growing winter work list.

Travels to the UK

2009-08-03T10:54:00.000+01:00

So I have encountered my first mini storm and trying to head directly to windward. Hard work but great fun. A few breakage but all part of it. Auto pilot decided not to work so 3 days of balancing the boat and hand steering. I'm learning loads and having a great time....

Race Program

2009-07-31T18:02:00.004+01:00

Over the two year campaign I aim to train and take part in as many qualifying races as possible, I hope to base the boat between the UK and Brittany France so will take part predominately in the Atlantic races. The races I aim to take part in are:-

2010 Race schedule
1000 Nm Qualification
Pornichet Select	Pornichet - Belle-île - Yeu - Port Bourgenay - Groix - Pornichet
Mini Pavois	La Rochelle - Gijon - La Rochelle
UK Mini Fastnet	Plymouth - Phare d'Eddystone - Bouée Needles - Phare de Bishop - Rocher du Fastnet - Cork - Plymouth
Hexis cup le grand	Départ de la Grande Motte - Les îles Mèdes - Île Sa Dragonera (NO de Mallorca) - Barcelone - Les Îles Mèdes - Porquerolles - arrivée à la Grande Motte
Transgascogne	Port Bourgenay - Ribadeo - Port Bourgenay
Azors

The Challenge

2009-07-31T15:35:00.004+01:00

The Mini Transat or Open 6.50 is a modern and technical 21ft yacht, designed specifically for single handed offshore racing.

The 6.50 Transat began back in 1977 and has been held bi-annually since with interest, participation and coverage growing since. Each transatlantic race has been limited to 80 fiercely competitively challenged places.

The race began as a more affordable option to the up and coming offshore racer, but has progressed into what many professional sailors believe to be one of the most formidable and toughest races. And it has proven to be an excellent stepping stone for many of today’s elite racers.

Qualification involves completing in single and double handed offshore races and finishing a non-stop 1000 nautical mile set single handed passage. This leads up to the Transatlantic in September 2011, which is a 4300 nautical mile race and over 30 day at sea in two stages. Starting in La Rochelle, France down to the stop over at the Canary Islands off the West Spanish coast. From there following the trade winds to a waypoint of the Cape Verder island before crossing the famous doldrums before finishing in Salvador Brazil.

Personal Challenge

Top 10 Prototype finish in the 2011 Transat!

This is a tall order as there are many new, lighter and technical boats in the fleet, but I believe Night Fever is an excellent platform for me to achieve a great result

The Challenge

2009-07-31T15:34:00.004+01:00

The Mini Transat or Open 6.50 is a modern and technical 21ft yacht, designed specifically for single handed offshore racing.

Qualification involves completing in single and double handed off shores and finishing a non-stop 1000 nautical miles set single handed passage. This leads up to the Transatlantic in September 2011, which is a 4300 nautical mile race and over 30 day at sea in two stages. Starting in La Rochelle, France down to the stop over at the Canary Islands off the West Moroccan coast. From there following the trade winds to a waypoint of the Cape Verder island before crossing the famous doldrums before finishing in Salvador Brazil.

About Me

2009-07-31T15:30:00.007+01:00

I have sailed all my life and have been sailing professionally for the last 5 years, sailing aboard a large range of racing yachts. I grew up through youth dingy racing and national/European events.I made the step to keel boat and have taken part in many high profiled inshore events including;Maxi Giralia cup (1st in Class Wally maxi), Maxi worlds (2nd in class Wally Maxi), Les voiles de Saint Tropez (3rd in Class Wally Maxi), Newport (3rd in Class Swan 601), Antigua (2nd in Class Swan 601), Cowes and Cork race weeks (Youth team), European championships in SB3’s, IRC and IRM nationals.

My real interest is in offshore racing, most recently completing Newport Bermuda race (1st Class Zero 601), 2007 Transatlantic (3rd, Wally Max), Giralia Offshore (1st in Class), 2 RORC offshore series and Fastnet (3rd in Class Youth team)

I have had input in all positions whilst racing but have spent most of my time as bowman, which I think gears you up well for the mini transat.

I have spent the last 4 year working full time on a range of different boats. This has allowed me to raise the profile of my sailing and take my experience to a new level. I have been the boat builder and rigger in the different projects I have been involved in, which will come in very hand racing singlehanded.

I also having a degree in Sports engineering, specialising my final year on Hydrodynamics and keel designs/development for the Mini Transat. After this I worked for a marine engineering/boat building company and was involved in many unique yacht development projects, these included one off mast builds, 2006 Volvo navigational domes and hull research and development models for the 2007 Americas cup.

Other projects included running a Humphry’s 40 race boat project, a race conversion of a Swan 65, working on complex structural laminating, rig setup and deck gear fitting and a full refit of a Sydney 60.

I have worked hard and saved for many years to finally buy my boat Night Fever in June 2009. I have self funded my self up to now as I wanted to show my personal commitment to my campaign. I have spent the second half of the 2009 training and sailing between the Uk and the West coast of France trying to get good practice miles behind me. At the End of the 2009 season I took part in my first race in Medoc.

Now in 2010 after a full refit over the winter, customizing the specifically to suit my sailing style I have taken part in 3 major events. The Demi Cle, Pornichet Select and the MAP. Next week I have the Mini Fastnet and then later in the season the Azores race from Les Sables to Azores and back. I am happy with the results I have achieved generally finishing around 10th out of 50. I think this means I am sailing well as I am out performing the boat I am in. Night Fever is great, but is an older, water-ballasted, not canting keel boat and out of the boats similar to fine I am always first back. Promising for the future!

As well as the Mini, I am still heavily involved with the racing on the Wally and have 3 events this season. I am also looking to the future for other project I hope to take part in. I really have the multi hull bug and eventually hope to race trimarans. For 2012 I want to put together a campaign to take part in the Archipelago raid, 5 days racing around Swedish coast in an F18.

The Boat

2009-07-31T15:26:00.002+01:00

The Mini Transat has progressed into two fleets, the production boats and the prototype boats. Through my studies of the mini and my time boat building and engineering I have gained a keen interest in yacht innovation and progression, this is why I opted for the prototype. The box rule allows different building materials and mechanical system (i.e. carbon and swing keels).

Year	2006
Length	6.50m/21ft
Designer	Villenave
Builder	CLP Marine
Construction	Carbon/Epoxy/Airex
Spars	Carbon/Epoxy
Sails	All Purpose Pentex
Rigging	PBO

2009-07-26T19:05:00.001+01:00