The Crew assembles

Although the AZAB is a single or double-handed race, Jangada Too has the benefit of 3 extra crew members!

On the right:  Admiral Sir Waddle Flapjack, keeper of the crew morals - and the Flapjack pot.

On the left: Skipper, Assistant Navigator. Always wants the boat to head south. Is very pleased to hear that the first stop is the Azores.

And in the middle the newest member of the crew: Benedict Bear, who, as you see, is representing RNLI in support of Richard and Trevor's efforts to raise money for the Lifeboat Fund. Please support them by using the link below.

They are also supporting the AZAB Schools project and are linked to Truro Preparatory School.  Trevor is an Old Boy and we hear that Benedict himself is named after another (famous) former pupil. Any guesses as to who that might be? 

https://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Drew4/

Myth of Malham Race

This race certainly lived up to expectation with close racing, especially against the J109 fleet.  As we rounded the Eddystone light, J-Taime were about 3nm ahead with Jolene II less than a mile behind and several others in hot pursuit with spinnakers flying in all their glory.  As we approached Start Point we headed inshore to pick up the turn of the tide.  But as the wind dropped under the cliffs we began to regret the tactic.  However without too much damage done we continued the chase, changing down from spinnaker to Jib Top early for a fast reach across Lyme Bay.

Having stayed with the peloton, the race was in the balance as we approached St Albans.  With up to 3kts of tide against us over the ledge we chose to stay close inshore under the cliffs.  Code 0 hoisted but remained furled, thankfully as the breezed picked up.  By this stage both J-Taime & Jolene were just ahead of us and slightly offshore.  But we stuck to our gameplan, and stayed in close to the cliffs to keep out of the tide.  As we emerged into Swanage Bay we just managed to squeeze past J-Taime.  Behind us the wind dropped slightly and the chasing pack struggled to keep up against the tide - we'd squeezed through just in time.

Then we switched tactics and headed slightly more offshore than the rest of the fleet.  Picking up a wind shift in the closing miles, with a quick change from Code 0 to A2 spinnaker we just managed to creep ahead, crossing the line 10 minutes ahead of the other J109s.

The J109 fleet certainly offers exciting racing. With only four of us onboard it is hard to keep up such high levels of concentration.  Off watch sleep is interrupted to help with sail changes adding to the challenge.  And without the benefit of the autopilot that we are so used to double-handed we are all aching from the time spent on the helm.

After two RORC races we are currently leading the J109s in the series.  We have set a high benchmark for the Fastnet Race - bring it on......

Myth of Malham - race to the Eddystone Light

The RORC Myth of Malham race to the Eddystone Light and back is living
up to expectation. The Western Solent set the scene for the rest of the
first leg with light northerly beezes competing against the
Southwesterly seabreeze. At one point, as we tried to cross the
transition we caused much alarm, squeezing between two fishing boats.
But it is a fine line between success and failure with one yacht aground
off Lepe Spit and another hooked up to a fishing bouy off Lymington.

Overnight the wind died off Portland and with a sense of deja vue we
started drifting back towards Brighton. Rather than kedge in 60m depths
we persisted searching for a breeze. Eventually there was enough breeze
for the new Code 0.

As I write, we are approaching the famous lighthouse surround by the
usual suspects, many of them J109s. So we look forward to a hotly
contested race back to Prawle Point under spinnaker and a fast reach
across Lyme bay ans the northerly breeze fills in again.

Spirits are high as we have been enjoying some of Jeremy's "Souvide"
vegan dinners and flapjack to match the usual M&S variety. Looking
forward to breakfast as we finish the race just outside the Solent, near
Hurst Point on Monday morning.

RORC Cervantes race

The season is off to a good start with the RORC Cervantes race to Le
Havre. Departing from the normal double handed campaigns we had a crew
of four on board. From the off it was already starting to feel a little
crowded in the cockpit and we found ourselves having to dance around
each other below decks. But we soon settled down into a rythm with
Jeremy helming us to a great start towards the Needles with spinnaker
flying before running to St Albans. Then rounding up to a long beat SE
across the channel to Le Havre. The fleet all headed off on port tack
towards Cherbourg in anticipation of the wind shift. Timng the tack
east toward Le Havre on that wind shift was the most tactical part of
the race. We were delighted to find ourselves aprroaching Le Havre
leading a pack of J109s. Finishing 8th in Class 3 we are pleased with
the first phase of qualifying for the Fastnet and developing ourselves
as a team. Next race at the end of May to Eddystone and back.

Richard, Jeremey, Trevor & Paul

Re: Under pressure!

What a sport! It would've given me something to blame it on!


> On 10 Sep 2014, at 09:40, Richard Palmer <jangada@me.com> wrote:
>
> With a goatee beard developing under her bow, it was definitely time for a lift & scrub. Even the saildrive was covered in crustaceans. This year seems particularly bad for marine growth - the combination of warm sea with rain washing the fertilisers and associated spores off the fields perhaps.
>
> Given that I'll be racing against Jangada this weekend I'm beginning to think I should have left the pressure wash until next week.
>
> Might have to rethink the strategy and return to dry sailing next year.
>
> Richard
>
> <photo.JPG>

Under pressure!

With a goatee beard developing under her bow, it was definitely time for a lift & scrub. Even the saildrive was covered in crustaceans. This year seems particularly bad for marine growth - the combination of warm sea with rain washing the fertilisers and associated spores off the fields perhaps.

Given that I'll be racing against Jangada this weekend I'm beginning to think I should have left the pressure wash until next week.

Might have to rethink the strategy and return to dry sailing next year.

Richard

All over

With the racing over and Jangada back in her home port, it's time for quiet reflection on our achievement.

The worst damage to Jangada is a bent stanchion from an accidental gybe - a testament to her reliability and set-up. The worst injury was to Trevor's finger when slicing parmesan, although even that hardly warrants a mention - but the galley is one of the most dangerous places onboard.

It was a stunningly fast pace - we averaged 6.7kts over almost 2,000nm of racing, including 3 hours rowing. Total corrected time was 12 days 13 hours - 2 days faster than last time. And to cross the finish line, 3rd boat on the water ahead of many faster boats is an achievement I'm sure we will boast about for some time.

So now we hang up our wet weather gear, enjoy the sunshine and start planning our next big adventure - the Azores & Back Race in 2015. With 100 boats entered the competition will be fierce and already we are thinking of how we can improve.....

Enjoy the summer and return to follow us to the mid-Atlantic in June 2015.

Richard