UK Mini Fastnet Preparations

Posted May 15, 09:34 AM · 0 Comments

The UK Mini Fastnet will start at 15:30 today from Plymouth. I will be sailing the 600 nautical mile to Ireland and back on Prim Avel with Andy Olliver.

There is a live tracker and a newsfeed for the race.

The last couple of days have been very hectic. We replaced a rolling furler for our Code Zero (a very nice sail), fitted a adjustable bobstay, built a liferaft launching system, calibrated the mast and lots of other things… Oddly enough the list always kept on growing.

In fact, while I type this, Andy is diving under the boat to make sure the hull is squeaky clean. Talk about last minute.

However, we now have a fully prepared boat and the race looks to be a good one. Good wind with some nice downwind courses. (The way to Ireland might be a painful one against the wind.)

We have the oldest boat in the fleet and expect to struggle slightly to keep up on the downwind courses. However, we have the better hull-shape for the upwind legs and are looking to disprove any theoretical disadvantages. After all it’s all between the ears.

I will be unable to post messages on Twitter during the race—our phones get sealed in an envelope—but the RWYC is doing their best to keep you updated via the live tracker and their newsfeed.

See you on Thursday :D

One last thing: The Royal Western Yachtclub is doing a sterling job preparing this race. Let’s hope they can bring the Transat 650 to Plymouth in 2013.

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