Winsome Rolex Fastnet Race 2011 – day1

August 15, 2011

After having warmed up Winsome last week during the Cowes Week for this race, we started with an early start right under the eyes of the RORC Officials on the RYS platform. We could not have done worse, but thanks to having had an OCS during our warming-up-week, we became (a little bit) wiser and decided to turn back, and restart properly, in order to avoid a 50% penalty.

So we had a late start but thanks to using the tide on the Solent optimally, coupled with a good dosis of luck which we all need as sailors, we came as first boat to Hurst Castle.

Now we are between Start Point and Lizard Point and we are getting accustomed to our sea life, getting up and getting to sleep every 4 (in day time) or 3 hours (at night).

In spite of careful preparations for this race, I forgot something very important and that was the CD of Amy Winehouse. At every watch change, music is being played -rather loud- as a wake up call and every year we use a different CD for it. During the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race it was Masquerade by Katchaturian.

We are in good spirits, in spite of sailing a dry boat, and we can see on the AIS that lots of boats are behind us. Unfortunately AIS is showing only an area of approximately 10 sq Nautical Miles so we are unable to see at this moment a boat like Tonnerre de Breskens with our good friend Piet Vroon on board. Even Marinero disappeared from the 10 sq Nm area so chances for an overall win in Ken Newman’s 25th (?) Fastnet Race are diminishing.

fastnet-2011_01.JPG

It is now 04:40 UTC, it is daylight already and the horizon behind us is turning red.

fastnet-2011_02.JPG

Post by Harry Heijst | August 15, 2011 |

12 Comments

  1. Well done for getting to Hurst Castle first. The weather in Cowes is lovely and sunny! Good racing John

    by John Martin | 15 Aug 2011 | 12:33

  2. Well done for getting to Hurst Castle first. The weather in Cowes is lovely and sunny! Good racing John

    by John Martin | 15 Aug 2011 | 12:34

  3. Well done for getting to Hurst Castle first

    by John Martin | 15 Aug 2011 | 12:35

  4. Found you on the Fastnet tracker website south of Falmouth doing 7.7 knots.

    Keep up the good work and good luck from Australia!

    by Bruce Craw | 15 Aug 2011 | 14:27

  5. Go Winsome! You guys had me worried at the start. i thought there was another port / starboard incident brewing! The rest of the race is going well. I now have a splendid photo of the Needles. Thanks. PM and AM

    by Peterm73 | 15 Aug 2011 | 15:55

  6. Race volgen via de tacker is weer erg leuk….zeker nu de Pinta-M weer van de partij is. Voorlopig liggen jullie voor!!! Zet hem op…..

    by Nicole | 15 Aug 2011 | 20:54

  7. Go for it boys!!
    Good luck!
    Liefs,Mieke

    by Mieke | 15 Aug 2011 | 21:40

  8. Keep up the good work guys!! ziet er goed uit!

    by hidde k | 15 Aug 2011 | 23:17

  9. leuk om te lezen en het zo te kunnen volgen, begrijp dat jullie het goed doen maar begrijp niet hoe de ‘tacker’werkt!
    veel succes nog, liefs, vooral aan P!

    by Elisabeth | 16 Aug 2011 | 09:36

  10. Harry en bemanning, goed werk tot nu toe! Ik volg jullie aandachtig vanachter mijn bureau. Succes!

    by Joost Dantuma | 16 Aug 2011 | 13:37

  11. Heren, in NL het is nu dinsdag om 21.40 uur, volgens de tracker zijn jullie nog eerste dus door bijven varen zo als tot nu. Nog even en dan ronden jullie de rock. dan is het een makkie naar huis. Van harte met de tot nu behaalde prestatie. Groet. Alex

    by Alex Bisi | 16 Aug 2011 | 20:43

  12. Goeden morgen, dat gaat snel. Jullie varen 7.6knts toevalig met koers 118. Goede vaart verder en blijf eesrte. Groet Alex

    by Alex Bisi | 17 Aug 2011 | 09:24