Sunday, July 27, 2008
Puma Logic Wins the RORC Channel Race
Puma Logic’s preparations for the Madeira Race are now complete. The final weekend of offshore racing before the team depart on their next adventure was a complete contrast to the other races of the season. Unlike the cold, windy and wet previous weekends the team was blessed with sunshine and light airs.
After a taxing light wind race which required complete concentration from everyone for the twenty hour duration of the race Puma Logic crossed the finish line just fifteen minutes behind Pen Azen and ten minutes behind British Soldier. This was good enough to secure a win on corrected time by just over ten minutes.
The team were over the moon on receiving the result and now look forward to the Madeira Race which starts on Monday 11th August.
Philippe will be posting a full account of the Madeira team exploits and progress later this week.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Day Three Results
Another good day of racing for Puma Logic. After posting another two 2nd places in the races on Wednesday Puma has moved up to 2nd overall! The gap on the water between Puma and Anticipation is fairly small and often only between one second and a minute. Thursday’s mission is to close that gap and win a race!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
ACC Bank Cork Week Begins
The team aboard Puma Logic have enjoyed two great days of racing at ACC Cork Week. Monday was a light wind day with Pete Summers skippering in conditions that do not suit the Reflex 38’s! However he and the team did a brilliant job to post a 5 and 7th place with just seconds separating the top few boats.
Day two provided Puma with better conditions for the Reflex with a steady 17 — 19 knot South Westerly breeze. Despite some interesting moments the team did a great job to score two second places and missed out on a win by just one second! Puma now lies 4th in class just one point behind 3rd and three points behind 2nd. It is all very close!
Wednesday will be another light winds day with 8 — 10 knots forecasted. Thursday should be slightly breezier with 12 — 14 knots. Go on Puma!
Monday, July 14, 2008
At Last, We Have Arrived
What an epic that was, I never thought a simple task of getting a yacht from the Solent to Cork in July could become such a nightmare.
Allie has done a fantastic job of the logistics back at base to ensure that Puma got across the Irish Sea. I think we all owe her a very large drink, a big present and lots of gratitude. Without her fantastic support there is no way we would have got here!
Ben and I were very relieved when Pete Summers and his fiancée, Tori, arrived in Newlyn on Friday evening to help us get Puma to Cork. For my part it meant that I could get some much needed sleep (I actually slept for 30 hours, all the way across the Irish Sea)! What a lightweight!
Ben has been fantastic this week, it is his first real offshore experience and he was faced with hours on deck standing watch in particularly unpleasant conditions. He took up the challenge and had a brilliant time with a great sense of achievement upon arrival. Full credit to Ben for a sterling effort.
We arrived at 0630 on Sunday morning and by 0930 Puma were raced prepped and ready to go out training. Time for Ben and myself to get off and allow Pete to take the team out for the day. I am having a couple of days off now and look forward to getting out with the team on Tuesday.
Dave Latham has now arrived in Cork and will be sharing the skippering role with me over the next few days. What a team effort! Thank Allie for a great job.
Now everyone looks forward to some great racing over the next five days. God luck Puma.
RORC 'Sailing School Boat of the Year' 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012