I am a great believer in using various methods of visualisation in sport to help aid success at a high level. As many of the people who have sailed with me on Puma will testify, it has sometimes been used to good effect. There are obviously a few cynics who just keep quiet and ignore me! I have to be the first to admit though, this race has not quite panned out as I visualised it!
What an amazing start we had, power reaching out of the Solent and flying downwind in what can only be described as ‘champagne sailing conditions.’ Morale was high onboard as we screamed into the lead in IRC 1 heading around Dover with a two mile lead, which was to be gradually increased over the next few hours to five miles.
The race was not going without incident and there were a few jobs to be added on a regular basis to the growing snag list! However, it is fair to say we were not pushing Visit Malta Puma to the limits as this is a marathon and it is a big group of rocks we are sailing around. ‘To finish first first you must finish’ is one of my favourite adages!
Four years ago I finished the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland race (with Brian) and was heard to mutter the immortal words ‘I am never doing that race again.’ Brian concurred! So what on Earth are we doing here now you may ask? Well yesterday we were all asking the same. It reminded me of Steve Redgrave’s famous quote ‘if you ever see me in a rowing boat again you have permission to shoot me.’ He went onto win another Olympic gold medal and a Knighthood!
This race is almost an exact mirror of that race four years ago! Back then Sara had to be medi-vaced of Puma, we were protested by the race committee for allegedly sailing the wrong side of Eddystone Light (later to be dropped) and everything on board was breaking, all in the first 30 hours! For the rest of the race we were fighting from behind with a large deficit on the leaders.
It is fair to say that my heart sunk when the alternator stopped working yesterday. I was utterly dejected as I knew that it probably spelt the end of our dream of racing around Britain and Ireland in our attempt to win IRC 1 of the RORC championships. Power onboard is vital for both safety and survival, it powers our comms equipment to the outside world to obtain weather info, it powers our nav lights at night so we can be seen by other ships and most importantly it powers our water maker which provides us with fresh drinking water!
For hours whilst at sea in a rough sea we tried to find the fault and fix it. As time ticked by and the remaining battery power was dying it was becoming more clear that we may need to retire. I decided to proceed and get an hours sleep before making a final decision as to what to do.
Upon waking up things were no clearer, the alternator fairy had not waved a magic wand and the decision was taken to suspend racing and head back (over 60 miles) to Great Yarmouth. We intended to moor the boat in flat water and try again to repair the alternator. The word ‘retire’ is not in my vocabulary (I have only retired for three RORC races in 10 years). We were not going to give up till we had exhausted every single option. However, we are allowed no ‘outside assistance’ for this race, which includes taking on spares or supplies if we needed help or new parts the outcome was clear, we would have to retire.
Unbelievably the alternator was fixed! Sadly though one of our team members was not able to continue for personal reasons and had to leave us in Great Yarmouth. Deja-vue ! So here we are four years later, coming from behind with a protest from the race committee hanging over us and we are one team member down, all in the first thirty hours!
I am sat at the chart table typing this in awe of the team I am sailing with. To embark on a race like this is a tough decision that takes guts and determination. To decide to continue in such adversity, not even knowing whether the RORC intend to disqualify us, is an amazing test of everyone’s character on board. It takes a certain person to have the inclination and strength to willingly leave the comfort of a sheltered harbour to continue on a race like this.
Not only have we re joined the race 150 miles behind the leaders in our class I am really pleased to tell you that morale on board is extremely high. We have just finished dinner listening to our adopted boat song ‘I Gotta Feeling’ ….that tonight is going to be a good night, blaring out of the deck speakers. The sun was setting in full glory over a gas rig a few miles to the East of us. How much more perfect can the world be.
As David Phillips says ‘we are still on the dance floor’ and David, I can assure you we are still dancing, especially your old man! We are going to give this our all, it is what ocean racing is about. It is not just about winning; it is about competing, finishing, giving it 100%, overcoming adversity, camaraderie, personal endeavour and above all else fulfilment. Just finishing this race will make everyone onboard a winner and I am so proud of them all.
Four years ago we climbed our way back into 2nd place in IRC1, the protest from the race committee was justifiably dropped and we all made life long friends. The sense of achievement was intense. I can not promise you any gold medals on this occasion, we are an awful long way back, and I doubt any of us are going to receive a Knighthood (more likely some little men in white coats will be awaiting us in Cowes) but what I do know is that we are going to fight to the finish line and do everything we can to win the RORC championships in IRC1. We are down but not out and fighting all the way home.
Allie, if I ever tell you I want to do the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race again you have my full permission (and Brian’s) to shoot me on the spot!
Thanks to everyone for all you messages and comments. They are keeping us going and it is so good to know how much support we have.
