lancingsc.org.uk

Barnacle Bill · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 55 Location: Steyning

Greetings all!
My Contender space seems to have been invaded by a RIB. My fault...I must get my Contender back to Lancing and sail her. BUT.....there is a valid reason. The focus this year is on big boats, primarily on short-handed deep water stuff. I have entered the RBI 2 handed race with my son, Sam, as co-skipper.

Sam and I have already had a busy sailing season on our yacht "Comedy of Errors", a HOD35 racer/cruiser. In preparation for our long adventure, we have been 2 handed or solo sailing this year. Already we have raced in the JOG Cowes-Cherbourg-Cowes race [winning the 2 handed division], SORC races comprising "Round the Island" and Cowes-Poole-Cowes plus RSYC`s Cowes-Cherbourg and a Solent race.
The seeds were planted several years back to compete in the Shetland/RWYC two handed Round Britain and Ireland race. To copy the club`s own blurb

[img]"Started by the Royal Western in 1966, the Round Britain and Ireland is one of the International classics of short-handed sailing, and over the years has attracted the great names.
The course is clockwise around all of Great Britain & Ireland, and there are compulsory stops of 48 hours at Kinsale, Barra, Lerwick and Lowestoft where the hospitality is legendary.
It is always a terrific test of endurance and seamanship, and not for the faint hearted."
Phew!! I sometimes wonder what we taken on, but the entry fee is paid, the qualifying 300mile passage completed [last year`s Biscay Challenge race], and the boat [nearly] sorted. Frantic last minute preparations are under way and we are on track to leave Gosport on Monday 31st May to sail her to Plymouth. There the other 60 yachts are gathering, ready to come under the probing eye of the race scrutineers who will check just about everything. Kay is coming down for a few days in our camper van.....that will be the shore base/office and B+B for the last few days. The start is on Sunday 6th June at 1200 which Kay will witness from a chartered pleasure steamer, both the start and the first few miles past the famous Plymouth breakwater. Then we`re off!! Target time is about 22-25 days [including the stops].....hopefully we`ll be back in Plymouth [barring breakages/gales/plagues of locusts etc] by the end of June/1st July.
Follow our progress on our website http://www.gbr735r.blogspot.com/ which has links to the tracker we will be carrying and also the main race website. You will be able to shiver [me timbers] with us all the way round. Moral support will be welcomed!

TONY

Mike Croker · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 922 Location: Steyning

Karen McGrath · Joined: 26 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Worthing

Very best of luck Tony and Sam. We'll be following progress. Just remember keep the land to starboard (once you're around the Isle of Wight that is!!!!)

GaryA · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 107 Location: Tadworth, Surrey

Great adventure. Enjoy all the prep. I am sure the sun will shine all the way round. At least you don't have to do the outer loop.

Isabelle · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 622 Location: Portslade

Like many of us, Mark and I have been following Tony and Sam's progress around the British Isles. After an eventful and almost dramatic stay in Barra, they are in the third leg of the race, the "Killer Leg" as some call it.

At the 19.00 update this evening, Comedy of Errors (number 27) had finally turned south at the top of the Shetland islands and travelling at a steady pace.

At the moment, they are closer to the Arctic Circle than they are to us. There's probably very little night for them, but some stunning views if they can handle tiredness.

Anyway, keep going guys and I'm looking forward to a blog update in Lerwick!

xxx

Isabelle · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 622 Location: Portslade

And now, they're in the pub!

Jerry · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 781

Looks like a close finish heading into Lowestoft for the Class 3s...with only about 20 miles to run, Tony and Sam look to be heading for line honours with 2 others hot on their heels! http://www.rbandi.com/tracking/

Isabelle · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 622 Location: Portslade

They're well on their way to Plymouth now. They left Lowestoft yesterday with very little wind and are spending their time looking out for drifts and puffs.

At 10am today, they were here:

By this evening, we should be able to wave at them!

From our window, we can see a couple of the big boys (Suenos and BluQube) wishing they could see Brighton faster.

Best of luck to Tony and Sam!

xxx

Mike Croker · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 922 Location: Steyning

The lads have had a hard day, I suspect.

Julian Wilkins · Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 133 Location: Findon

Mike- I am impressed that you were up at 4am checking up on Tony. Does Di snore that badly!

Mike Croker · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 922 Location: Steyning

Mike Croker · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 922 Location: Steyning

Nice try guys, but it doesn't seem to have worked (Tony & Sam are in 27) Crying or Very sad

But as Denis Conner (wot lost the America's Cup to Australia by not staying between the boat behind and the next mark) might have said, you rarely overtake someone by following at a distance.

Isabelle · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 622 Location: Portslade

This is it! After an eventful last few days that kept us glued to the computer, Tony and Sam have finally completed the race. They crossed the finish line in Plymouth this evening, at 20.44.35.

They battled their way through testing conditions and incredible close racing and, after 2000 miles, they're finally having a rest.

With a 5th in their class and a 6th place overall, they have every reason to celebrate!

Amazing achievement.