A number of people have started to ask what my plans will be beyond the TransAt. At present I am not fully sure, I do know I very much enjoy the solo sailing and will look to do some more of it and probably some doublehanded stuff too.
USA 724 is presently for sale. The buyer can take delivery either in Brazil immediately after the TransAt or once the boat arrives back in France. I do not plan to bring the boat to the US.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I almost forgot...
Classe Mini sent me a letter while I was at Whidbey Island Race Week to let me know that my Qualifier had been accepted; some very good news.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Almost there
I had originally planned to be in France today but am still here in Seattle, not that being in Seattle in July is a bad thing. My lawn is a beautiful tan color, the boysenberries are all ripe, the days are long and it is supposed to be in the 90s the coming week.
I will be heading back to France next Sunday for a final two weeks of training before the boat goes to La Rochelle. I have really enjoyed being home but also have some Mini withdrawal going on too. Two weeks ago I sailed Whidbey Island Race Week on Brad and Gordy Cole's Melges 32. This is the same boat I have sailed on 3 of the last 4 Whidbey's and it is always a good time. This year we had a pretty good regatta with some rough races on Wednesday being the only thing that kept us away from a trophy for the week. We sailed 12 races over 4 days as Monday was a bust with no wind and although I did hear some grumbling from some folks about being tired from sailing 4 races on Tuesday I hope the organizers stick with this plan since I think people come to a regatta to sail more than to punish their livers although some folks seem to do both with equal vigor. In our class we had a J125, a 1D35 and a Melges 30 as the top three. Again I want to thank the crew of Nemsis, the Melges 30, for making the trek from San Diego.
As I have been gone most of the spring sailing season in the NW, many folks wanted to hear about my adventures in France which was nice. Of a bigger surprise were the number of folks who expressed interest in helping me out with the program. This was not something I expected at all.
With that in mind, if anyone reading this has a sponsor idea or wants to help my campaign out please contact me. The costs of the campaign have been pretty close to my expectations but it is still a big chunk of change and the help would be hugely appreciated. With the prevalence of companies in Europe using sailboats as marketing tools, it is somewhat baffling that American companies do not want to do the same. The only restrictions are that is cannot be alcohol, tobacco or something off color. For individuals who are interested in helping me out, I have a PayPal account and am working to get this linked to this blog page.
As for what's coming up, I head back next week for two weeks of training and then the boat will come out of the water to get the foils and hull section painted flouro orange. I will come home for a couple of weeks while this is done and then back to La Rochelle by September 4 for the pre-race inspections and other obligations. The TransAt is scheduled to start on Sunday Sept. 13 so it is just over 7 weeks away which I know will fly by.
On that note, I need to get back to making my house look slightly less abandoned that it has in my absence.
I will be heading back to France next Sunday for a final two weeks of training before the boat goes to La Rochelle. I have really enjoyed being home but also have some Mini withdrawal going on too. Two weeks ago I sailed Whidbey Island Race Week on Brad and Gordy Cole's Melges 32. This is the same boat I have sailed on 3 of the last 4 Whidbey's and it is always a good time. This year we had a pretty good regatta with some rough races on Wednesday being the only thing that kept us away from a trophy for the week. We sailed 12 races over 4 days as Monday was a bust with no wind and although I did hear some grumbling from some folks about being tired from sailing 4 races on Tuesday I hope the organizers stick with this plan since I think people come to a regatta to sail more than to punish their livers although some folks seem to do both with equal vigor. In our class we had a J125, a 1D35 and a Melges 30 as the top three. Again I want to thank the crew of Nemsis, the Melges 30, for making the trek from San Diego.
As I have been gone most of the spring sailing season in the NW, many folks wanted to hear about my adventures in France which was nice. Of a bigger surprise were the number of folks who expressed interest in helping me out with the program. This was not something I expected at all.
With that in mind, if anyone reading this has a sponsor idea or wants to help my campaign out please contact me. The costs of the campaign have been pretty close to my expectations but it is still a big chunk of change and the help would be hugely appreciated. With the prevalence of companies in Europe using sailboats as marketing tools, it is somewhat baffling that American companies do not want to do the same. The only restrictions are that is cannot be alcohol, tobacco or something off color. For individuals who are interested in helping me out, I have a PayPal account and am working to get this linked to this blog page.
As for what's coming up, I head back next week for two weeks of training and then the boat will come out of the water to get the foils and hull section painted flouro orange. I will come home for a couple of weeks while this is done and then back to La Rochelle by September 4 for the pre-race inspections and other obligations. The TransAt is scheduled to start on Sunday Sept. 13 so it is just over 7 weeks away which I know will fly by.
On that note, I need to get back to making my house look slightly less abandoned that it has in my absence.
Friday, July 3, 2009
I'm in!
Pending approval of my qualifier, I'm officially in the 2009 TransAt.
http://www.classemini.com/modules/courses/upload/14/Transat%20-%20Liste%20au%20030709.pdf
http://www.classemini.com/modules/courses/upload/14/Transat%20-%20Liste%20au%20030709.pdf
Thursday, July 2, 2009
pics 020709
Here are a bunch of pics I snapped during trip number 2 to France:
Leaving Douarnenez just after sunrise heading back to Locmiquelic after my Qualifier
Sunrise in Douarnenez
Pointe du Raz, I had about 2.5 knots of current going with me here
Connigbeg Buoy, north of Cork, Ireland
My very salty boots after the Qualifier
Another shot of Wolf Rock
Sunrise the morning of the MAP start in Douarnenez
The national flags of the competitors in the MAP in front of the Winches Club in Douarnenez
The fleet before the MAP
Leaving Douarnenez just after sunrise heading back to Locmiquelic after my Qualifier
Sunrise in Douarnenez
Pointe du Raz, I had about 2.5 knots of current going with me here
Wolf Rock on the way north during my Qualif.
Re island bridge, during my Qualifier.
North end of Re Island
Connigbeg Buoy, north of Cork, Ireland
Leaving Douarnenez on my Qualifier
Sunset near Penmarc'h during the MAP, the boat in the center of the pic is Jesse Rowse, another American
My very salty boots after the Qualifier
Another shot of Wolf Rock
Sunrise the morning of the MAP start in Douarnenez
The national flags of the competitors in the MAP in front of the Winches Club in Douarnenez
The fleet before the MAP
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
