Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Slow Progress
I have just heard the rugby scores from the weekend. Yes, I know it is Tuesday but the pigeons have not been coming out this far. One of the finest virtues of being at sea. Sorry Craig, bad luck. Can I have your ticket for the final? Did France not do the same to the All Blacks’s eight years ago? Good effort England! Not sure if it was a good game, I guess I will find out tomorrow.
Whilst Steve’s man flu is clearing up nicely mine is now developing well! I guess it was inevitable that I would get it, living in such close proximity. As you can imagine down below on an Open 60 is sparse to say the least.
There are no concessions given to weight on these boats, most of them do not even have a head (toilet). Why have that extra weight when a bucket will do he job perfectly adequately? I am pleased to say that sacrificing a fully functioning heads was one step too far to Steve, so we do actually have one. It is just the pan mind, no separate room for it, not even a curtain as that would be asking a bit too much!
When you come down below you step into the galley and nav station, along side that are the bunks (one each side) and in front is the heads. It is all open plan; so you could say that we cook, eat, work, sleep and crap in the same room! You definitely lose all your inhibitions out here. It does have to be remembered that these boats are designed for single-handed sailing. It is hardly surprising that I caught Steve’s man flu, there is just nowhere to hide from the germs, or Steve!
The last time I rounded Fastnet Rock was two years ago. What a contrast! There were nine of us aboard and we were leading our class in the Fastnet Race, the rock was in view for hours and hours and the sea glassy without a single ripple, except the ones caused by the rotors of the media helicopter. It was a typical balmy British summers day.
This time there was no friendly RORC official in the lighthouse to exchange jovial banter with, we were sailing at 14 knots and the loom of the lighthouse appeared through the rain cloud from just five miles away. There was none of the excitement and exhilaration of the previous rounding. The grainy silhouette of the rock soon disappeared into the dark dreary dawn as quickly as it appeared whilst we powered away at 14 knots just another memory.
I did experience a moment of nostalgia, reminiscing on some of the fond memories of previous Fastnet Races and also dwelling on what might have been this year! As the rock disappeared I soon re-focused and contemplated what lies in the future and what this rounding is all about. It is another milestone in another fantastic campaign and something I have never done before.
Now on the return leg home, we have already covered 840 miles since leaving Weymouth on Friday night. There is a cold front spanning the Celtic Sea at the moment, which is resulting in extremely light winds. For the past two hours we have had just two knots of wind. Progress is very slow and we do not anticipate much more wind until this evening. It is very frustrating having all this horse power and not being able to use it. At least it gives my over flexed and aching muscles a much needed break and time to recover. What a wuss!
All my hopes of a South Westerley gale to really put us through our paces and power us home in less than a day were in vain. What a contrast to the conditions that everyone experienced in the same area just two months ago. Steve was sailing at 25 knots back then! Sadly I will have to wait for another occasion to see an Open 60 perform in full glory.
Whilst Steve’s man flu is clearing up nicely mine is now developing well! I guess it was inevitable that I would get it, living in such close proximity. As you can imagine down below on an Open 60 is sparse to say the least.
There are no concessions given to weight on these boats, most of them do not even have a head (toilet). Why have that extra weight when a bucket will do he job perfectly adequately? I am pleased to say that sacrificing a fully functioning heads was one step too far to Steve, so we do actually have one. It is just the pan mind, no separate room for it, not even a curtain as that would be asking a bit too much!
When you come down below you step into the galley and nav station, along side that are the bunks (one each side) and in front is the heads. It is all open plan; so you could say that we cook, eat, work, sleep and crap in the same room! You definitely lose all your inhibitions out here. It does have to be remembered that these boats are designed for single-handed sailing. It is hardly surprising that I caught Steve’s man flu, there is just nowhere to hide from the germs, or Steve!
The last time I rounded Fastnet Rock was two years ago. What a contrast! There were nine of us aboard and we were leading our class in the Fastnet Race, the rock was in view for hours and hours and the sea glassy without a single ripple, except the ones caused by the rotors of the media helicopter. It was a typical balmy British summers day.
This time there was no friendly RORC official in the lighthouse to exchange jovial banter with, we were sailing at 14 knots and the loom of the lighthouse appeared through the rain cloud from just five miles away. There was none of the excitement and exhilaration of the previous rounding. The grainy silhouette of the rock soon disappeared into the dark dreary dawn as quickly as it appeared whilst we powered away at 14 knots just another memory.
I did experience a moment of nostalgia, reminiscing on some of the fond memories of previous Fastnet Races and also dwelling on what might have been this year! As the rock disappeared I soon re-focused and contemplated what lies in the future and what this rounding is all about. It is another milestone in another fantastic campaign and something I have never done before.
Now on the return leg home, we have already covered 840 miles since leaving Weymouth on Friday night. There is a cold front spanning the Celtic Sea at the moment, which is resulting in extremely light winds. For the past two hours we have had just two knots of wind. Progress is very slow and we do not anticipate much more wind until this evening. It is very frustrating having all this horse power and not being able to use it. At least it gives my over flexed and aching muscles a much needed break and time to recover. What a wuss!
All my hopes of a South Westerley gale to really put us through our paces and power us home in less than a day were in vain. What a contrast to the conditions that everyone experienced in the same area just two months ago. Steve was sailing at 25 knots back then! Sadly I will have to wait for another occasion to see an Open 60 perform in full glory.
posted by Philippe Falle at 5:13 PM
