Sea-shanty to the tune of 'Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz!"

Oh Allie won't you lend me a Reflex 38,

My friends all have first 40s, and we can't finish late

We've worked hard on our sailing, in some varied sea states 

So Allie can we play on the Reflex 38.

Oh Julian won't you find us a wind strength of 3

I'm fed up of force 8 Jules, it's too scary for me.

I squeal when we heel more than 15 degrees

So Jules won't you find me a calm bit of sea.

Oh Mike won't you give us a rope that's not blue

We got 2 for the Spinny, Halyards G1 and S2, 

It's a bugger in the night Mike to pick which one to use 

So please won't you give us a rope that's not blue.

Oh Sharon please don't make me go up to the bows 

Denise needs a snorkel to venture past the shrouds 

And when Jon is helming you are guaranteed to drown 

So Sharon please don't make me go up to the bows.

Philippe can you sort out a night on the town, 

Sacha and Ed like to party, we cannot let them down 

Bob and Ian will do the wine list, the best that can be found 

So Philippe can you sort out a night on the town.

copyright - Bella Mather 2011!

Interceptor Blog:

Heading out to the start of the Morgan Cup now, can feel the atmosphere building in anticipation of the race ahead. The boat is slamming already, so I don't think we will get much sleep, and none for me having left my sleeping bag behind (all weight off the boat!). The forecast suggests a tough race with big winds and rough seas, a massive challenge for all the teams involved. But the challenge is why we go yacht racing. I have no doubt that the team on Interceptor Logic will face the challenge head on, and continue to race with the endeavor and spirit that I have seen so far this campaign. We will look for every bit of boat speed possible to come out of our trusty ship. The reward - a beer in Cherbourg!

Good Luck to all the teams.

James Wilkie (1st Mate)

It is going to be a wet and wild race to Cherbourg this weekend for our seven teams competing in the RORC's Morgan Cup this weekend.  The forecast is for a 30 knots of wind on the nose!  It will certainly be a challenge and test of endurance for our teams.

The Morgan Cup is a qualifier for the Rolex Fastnet Race which takes place in August.  The idea of the qualifying races is to prepare the teams for a tough offshore race ensuring the boats are up to the challenge and seaworthy.

A forecast like this provides the ideal test for the teams and boats. The race will provide the perfect opportunity to identify any areas of weakness and much development can be planned after the race.  It is good to get conditions like this in the build up to the race so there will be no surprises in the Fastnet race.

The conditions in the last race provided all the competitors with a 35 knot downwind blast of 100 miles, that combined with an upwind 70 mile slog in this race will ensure that our teams have experienced both extremes of heavy weather sailing.  What a great start to the training programme!

Well, as a start we can say a big thank you to Peter Robson for lending us Playing Around as it allowed us to go training, instead of moping while all the other Logic boats got to go and have fun!

We arrived in the RAF YC after an uneventful trip down, fresh faced and raring to start, ready to hear Philippe give all six teams a de-brief on the Myth of Malham race. Obviously this didn’t include the last leg as that was a bit of a blur to all us Quokka’s! I’d heard Philippe’s de-brief at on this race at RORC a few days earlier, where he had the crews from a lot more classes to talk to, and it was clear that the class conundrums were challenging given the wind shifts.

The first thing I noticed is how much difference 3 feet makes: it’s been said time and again, but the forepeak on a 40.7 is quite small compared to Quokka and it does make a difference: I wouldn’t say it was better or worse though, just different: in the smaller space it was easier to brace while packing sails etc. But I missed the capacity to spread the spinnakers out a bit more.

During the training we were all switched around: bowmen on the helm, trimmers on the bow (We may have stopped short of putting our sleeping partner on the bow though!) and off we went: upwind, downwind, man overboard (yes Phil, remember that the boat does have a reverse gear!), mark rounding, 15 seconds to the mark (that’d be 5 boat-lengths to you sir!).

Coming up on the wind, time to wind ion a bit of main halyard and crack: it breaks in 3 places, luckily behind the clutch: everything is ok, but we need to attach a mousing line to the end and let it run through.

Back to base then for a shower and a BBQ. And what a feast: many thanks to Katie and Allie, we’re hoping that some gentle bribery might make them forgive the table for playing with their minds (and their confidence in their mathematical abilities)!

The next day proved to be the interesting one, starting with a trip to the top of the mast (a lot of fun actually, you’ll find me back up there soon) to recuperate the other end of our main halyard. We poked our nose out of the Hamble river to be met with wind, rain and waves, but undeterred went up with full main and No3. The plan was to do a couple of upwind legs and a couple of downwind legs, with 2 hoists and 2 drops, but as we were settling into our first beat the jib halyard parting with another loud crack and the sail began a majestic descent to the deck under its own weight. Cue the bow team springing forward to get it under control. We were going to send it back up on the spinnaker halyard when I have to admit to being rather surprised to see the S4 arrive on deck: bare headed hoist then in 25+ knots. More grumbling from me, I have no wish to be on tiptoe trying to unravel a kite from the forestay and need Phil’s expert counselling (“Get on with it you (insert your own expletive here)” ). It was slightly interesting when it went up with a twist pre-folded. Oops! But at least that’s my beer tab sorted for a while!

Gybes come and go, the 40.7 rolls a lot more than a reflex or Quokka, and we’re really working the weight distribution, Kylie’s trimming and describes it as the most terrifyingly exhilarating experience she’s ever had. That was afterwards, during the experience she was hanging on with clenched jaw and gritted determination but smiling after a near perfect gybe in 27 knots of wind.

I’m on the foredeck for the next gybe. Bearing away... Trip... the pole comes down... Made! The pole starts to go up again. The boat is heeling a bit but up on the pointy end it has less effect and I’m focused on calling the end of the pole in case it catches the bottom of the kite. The guy comes away from the pole end... B***** I must have not made it properly. There goes my beer tab. I grab the end of the pole, find the guy and remake before realising that the halyard has been let off and we’re dropping. Hatch open, a lot of noise and kefuffle later and she’s down the hatch, pole down and we’re headed for home, de-briefing and a cup of coffee. All in a day’s training!

Many thanks to Peter Robson for the loan of the boat, and to our skipper and coach!

My personal prediction before this training race was that there would probably be some blood, definitely sweat and perhaps some tears. The Club racing I am used to is like infant school compared with RORC racing. A considerable step up for me and an entirely new boat to learn as well. Some of the character in the crew has started to emerge.

The high standard required just to perform adequately makes me feel desperately sorry for Philippe and his crew to have a fractured mast snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Dominik had a fairly bruising time as well. Huge thanks to Stacy for the video. And there is Dominik, indomitable, grinning from ear to ear.

We also owe a huge thanks to Captain Jack O'Sparrer. He is brave to the point of being foolhardy to take us out to play in a cold heavy wind gusting over thirty knots. 

The yacht with the huge black spinnaker who went by as though we were standing still shows us where we would need to be, t o have a chance to get amongst the choccies. She broached at least twice when close by, sorted herself out and spinnakered on. 

Our current level of fitness and training made white sails the only sensible option with the advantage of being to sail dead downwind in relative safety. But we have plenty of potential helms on board, we just need the chance to practice. And if you think you are not fit enough you probably aren't. You owe it to the rest of the team to do something about it.

Alex said "On Tuesday morning people will be carrying on the conversation they left on Friday afternoon. They will not understand I have forgotten all about it. I have been out there just trying to hang on." Or words to that effect. 

In perspective all the yachts had issues, or they wernt trying hard enough. Plenty of broaches. Someone even went swimming.

It is highly knackering just hanging on, no where comfortable to sit, cold and wet upwind and a roller coaster ride downwind.

I just loved it. I particularly like the bit when you snuggle into your pit, fully clothed, lifejacket to hand, two and a half glorious hours. Then back on deck to play. Our Yacht is just a large racing dinghy really. 

Downwind. On the helm. Crew weight aft. As a wave arrives you look downhill as though the bow wanted to pierce the sea. Helm hard on as she kicks to the left, take it off real quick. If you dare, and plenty did, dead downwind. Soft hands. 

Get it right and the sea starts to fizz and bubble. The acceleration is noticeable, the speedo lags far behind. Jacko. 19 knots. Line up the next one. Oh damn, got a big wobble on. Don't you just hate it when that happens ?

Get it wrong, allow her to round up, the apparent builds. Oops, over we go. If you are on the low side scamble up quick before your boots fill. 

" Let go the vang. " And so it carries on.

Stacy knows. James too. Dominik, was that you ? Man of the match for a complete all round performance. Keith perhaps ? 

It is very civilising to have ladies on board. I particularly single out Alice for her powers of concentration.

Quite apart from his banter and all round strength Conrad, like Mr Kipling, gives exceedingly good mainsail trim.

Gareth is just a machine, ceaseless, everywhere, my guardian, everyone should have one. Actually I think there may be two of him on board.

Man of the match ? To be fair, Jacko of course.

Me ? I haven't had so much fun for a long time !