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Posts tagged ‘clipper’

Dec 15

Visit Finland celebrates victory of Clipper Race 11-12, race 6 from Tauranga (NZ) to Southport (AU))
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Sweet victory, thank you awesome team!

What a race finish!

Only six minutes separated us and Gold Coast Australia in the final charge towards the finish line, which we crossed first thanks to relentless trimming all the way until the very end. The video shows Tea sitting on the pulpit and Carl standing next to the inner forestay calling the trim of their respective sails. I manned the staysail winch during the approach to the finish line.

It is very funny to see yourself and the team on video, after all we never get to see ourselves from outside the boat. Those few walking steps that I take on video does resemble very much a gait of a baby gorilla, and somehow I think this is perfectly fair comparison. After all we trot around the deck with bent knees and taking knuckle support from which ever surface happens to be on the way to the destination, and bagging salopettes do not help either. We’re less hairy though, however give it another 7 months and perhaps we’d start looking more like our big ape cousins.

The approach to finish line was nerve wrecking, thanks to Gold Coast steaming on our heels. The finish line was marked with two yellow buoys. We were expecting a hoot of some sort from the committee boat, that’s why we kept checking the buoys behind the headsails as we were not sure whether we were across the line yet or not. The hoot never came, therefore the cheer was a little late from the actual crossing.

Below photo of the Visit Finland leg 4 team is linked from Clipper Race website. More photos in the gallery there. Clipper Race news article also gives more insight into the race 6 finish.

Visit Finland team

Visit Finland team before setting off from Tauranga, NZ to Southport, AU in The Clipper Round the World 11-12 Race 6. From left to right: Perttu Monthan (FIN), Lexi Van Geest (UK/NZ), Tea Melsom (FIN/UK), Carl Palmer (SWE/FR), Greg Puttock (UK), Riikka Puustinen (FIN/UK), Paul Arkell (UK), Paul Knighton (UK), Nick Brooke (UK), Jo Poulton (UK), MC Chapman (UK), Carter Croft (UK/FR), Derek Baker (UK), Skipper Olly Osborne (UK). Inga Monthan (FIN) is missing from the photo.

 

Support team on shore waved flags on our arrival. Photo by Kit de Guymer.

 

Visit Finland after finishing Clipper Race 11-12 race 6. I'm holding the big Finnish flag in the middle with Carl.

 

Visit Finland arrives to Southport Marina

 

Visit Finland crew and skipper make their way to Southport Marina Yacht Club for a breakfast reception. Photo by Kit de Guymer

My photos at flickr:

Jun 18

Transfer exercise
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Lost & found

Recent level 3 training in force 8 winds with race skipper Juan Coelzer was lively to say the least. The main learnings were not about sailing techniques, but life and routines onboard in rough conditions.

Our crew of 13 plus skipper Juan and mate Bryony were prepared for pounding conditions on old creaking lady, CV1. Our intent was to race across the English Channel with three other Clipper boats in an attempt to get a taster of life in watch system during this long distance sail. Read more

Aug 15

California Clipper
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Spinnakers and sunshine: Level 2 training completed

Last night I returned from Level 2 training from Gosport. As always, training was absolutely fantastic and left us in a buzz that no doubt will be long lasting. Our lovely crew of Sara, Martyn, Robin, Chris, Russell, Mike and Adrian (plus myself) were very lucky to be skippered by Jan Ridd, the superb skipper of Cape Breton Island on race 09-10. There are not many people I respect more than this man, absolutely sterling character. I would trust my life with him, and indeed, he has already taken a boatful of people safely around the world. Mates Dave and Rich did excellent job supervising us throughout the week – a big thank you for your patience! The ground is still swinging below my feet, and instead of sitting on a sofa I’d rather be working right now in a cozy 68-foot boat. I have completely lost my voice thanks to a cold, but my rediscovered sailor hands can still type.

The level 2 training started with a radar course, which introduced us to this safety equipment. In the evening we made our way to the California clipper yacht, which was our training vessel for the rest of the week. The first couple of days were quite difficult for me, because I had forgotten so many essentials from the level 1 training. I had five months gap between trainings, which was enough to put me back to very basics wondering what all those ropes were again. That was very frustrating time, but fortunately towards the end of the week all previous learnings came flushing back.

Jan, Dave and Rich coached us wonderfully, transforming us from individuals of various skills to a team pulling together. It always amazes me how a bunch of people who do not know each other can glue so quickly and in the end turn out to be a slick team. If only the training lasted longer, we could have become a superb racing team! Once again it was witnessed that people with different skills, abilities and characters can indeed compliment each other, and have so much fun together despite having been complete strangers just a week ago.

We refreshed the winch skills, tacking, gybing, reefing and man overboard routines. Spinnakers, art of sail trimming, emergency steering and anchoring were new topics for me.

Highlights of the week:

  • Spinnakers. How much I love thee. Finally something new that I was able to understand straight away. I’ve felt from the beginning that my key problem has been understanding the mechanics of a boat, how different parts work together as one. This was not an issue with spinnaker at all, because I could see all parts clearly before my eyes. Pole, uphaul, downhaul, guy, halyard, sheets, kite – they all make a beautiful and very logical combination. The rest of the equation is about the correct process of setting it up, gybing and the skill of flying, recovering and packing spinnaker efficiently. Also I absolutely loved being hoisted up to the pole to spike the kite. I have no problem with nerves or heights, and it was just exhilarating to sit up there and see the main sails hoisted before spiking the kite. Apparently my build and character spells “bowman”!
  • Dave, our sail trimming expert introduced us to this Pandora’s box of sail trimming. He explained very clearly the basics of different ways to control sail shape, and their effect on the boat speed. When it comes to trimming, it apparently helps if one has obsessive-compulsive tendencies!
  • It was a real pleasure to get to know our wonderful crew and especially our exceptional teachers Jan, Dave and Rich.

The level 2 training ended up with a RYA VHF radio course taught by Jimbo. It was a great practical course learning to use VHF radio, practicing making mayday, pan pan and mayday relay messages. All very valuable skills.

In the near future I will need to improve wind awareness, helming, and simply keep the sailing abilities fresh in between trainings. I will book myself to a dinghy course straight away and start sailing religiously with my lovely sailing club in Hammersmith. I have already signed up to Hamble Winter Series race, which will take place over 8 weekends in October and November. This should see me through until December for my Level 3 practical training. Then I’ll have to see again how to work out the gap between Level 3 and 4 trainings.

Jan 3

Spirit of Australia leads the fleet across the start line for Race 5 to Singapore

The Xmas stopover in Australia is over, and the clipper fleet has started their Race 5 to Singapore. Press release from Clipper Ventures today from Geraldton, Western Australia:

Spirit of Australia was first across the start line to the delight of the home crowd as Race 5 of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race got underway. Hundreds of supporters lined the breakwater in Geraldton, Western Australia, and cheered as the Australian team raced past with the other nine internationally sponsored yachts in hot pursuit. Conditions were perfect for the beginning of the next leg to Singapore with a strong southerly breeze blowing 15-20 knots.

Speaking ahead of the race start, Spirit of Australia’s skipper, Brendan Hall, said, “I’m really looking forward to this one, it’s going to have a different flavour – a bit of an ocean race to start off with but then going up through Indonesia the navigational hazards are going to be a real challenge. It’s something a bit different but also something to sink our teeth into. “The enthusiasm and the effort put into this stopover by the people of Geraldton has been absolutely fantastic. Words can’t describe the welcome we’ve had, all the crew have had a fantastic time in Western Australia and we’ll all be very sad to leave.”

Spirit of Australia was followed across the line by California and their closest rivals, Team Finland, with only three points separating the Finns and the Aussies on the overall leader board. Chasing the front three and in order across the line were Cape Breton Island, Uniquely Singapore, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Jamaica Lightning Bolt, Cork, Ireland, Hull & Humber and Qingdao.

The Clipper 09-10 Fleet as they leave Geraldton, Western Australia for Singapore at the start of race 5 in the Clipper 09/10 Round the World Yacht Race. The race is contested by ten identical stripped down 68-foot racing yachts, each sponsored by a city, region or country. Clipper was founded by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox Johnston and the Clipper 09-10 race will be the seventh time his teams of amateur sailors will circumnavigate the planet. The Clipper 09-10 route has taken them from the Humber to La Rochelle to Rio de Janeiro and South Africa. The rest of the route consists of Western Australia, Singapore, Qingdao, California, Panama, Jamacia, New York, Cape Breton Island, Cork and then back to the Humber, where they are due to arrive on 17 July 2010. Photo: Cliper Ventures PLC

The Clipper 09-10 Fleet as they leave Geraldton, Western Australia for Singapore at the start of race 5 in the Clipper 09/10 Round the World Yacht Race. Photo: Cliper Ventures PLC

Race 5 is one of the most interesting and varied races of Clipper 09-10. The initial part will deliver some very high average speeds as the teams head north across the Indian Ocean. Approaching Christmas Island the conditions will then change quite dramatically as they sail across the Monsoon Trough, an area similar to the Doldrums where the winds will drop and temperatures will soar.

Race Director, Joff Bailey, says, “The crews face a number of challenges on this race and the winner will be the team that can quickly exit the light patch of winds and get themselves into the steady airflow further north. The boats will also be crossing the Equator again and the new crew joining for this leg will have to meet King Neptune just before the finish.”

The fleet will arrive at Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore, in a spectacular and colourful welcome ceremony on the morning of Saturday 23 January.

Main photo: Clipper Ventures PLC

Nov 14

Victory for Cork in South Atlantic leg of Clipper 09-10

Press Release: The jubilant crew of Cork, Ireland, has arrived in Cape Town after taking victory in Race 3, the South Atlantic leg, of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. They crossed the finish line in Table Bay at 1638 local time (1438 GMT), accompanied by a pod of dolphins surfing down the face of the waves.

The Irish team, led by skipper Richie Fearon, has led the race for the last six days, working themselves into an unassailable position to claim their first win of the 35,000-mile challenge of a lifetime.

Team Finland has scored their third podium finish in as many races, finishing in second place. The team, led by Helsinki-born skipper, Eero Lehtinen, crossed the finish line in Table Bay, Cape Town in pitch darkness and heavy seas at 0028 local time (2228 UTC, Thursday 12 November).

Team Finland arrived just ahead of Uniquely Singapore who finished at 0159 local time (2359 UTC) and did not let up the pressure on their rivals throughout the closing stages of the 3,300-mile race from Rio de Janeiro.

During the early stages of the race Eero admitted they were finding it hard to get back into their rhythm after the stopover in Rio and Team Finland had to fight all the way for their points in this race.
“I’d say half way was the hardest and then we came quite nicely through and the end was actually amazingly easy overtaking the last couple of boats,” he said. “At the start our tactical choices were not brilliant – we were playing the very conservative middle ground, not going either way very much and, to be honest, we were looking at Spirit of Australia quite a lot. When we split away it was a very good move going south so we left them and never looked back. Twenty-nine points out of 30 isn’t bad – we just have to work out how to get the scoring gates right then it’s nearly perfect!”

Uniquely Singapore arrived just behind Team Finland. An exhausted Uniquely Singapore skipper, Jim Dobie was very pleased with his team’s performance. As he stepped off the yacht onto the pontoon at Royal Cape Yacht Club he said, “We’ve got the taste for it now – you don’t want to let go when you get the podium places. It was a hard fought battle and a tough race. Fast and furious – superb! We had two slightly disappointing races to begin with but now we’ve clicked and we’re back into it. The team feels like a racing team now and we’re definitely going to keep our place up the top.”

The rest of the ten strong fleet, including Jamaica Lightning Bolt, Hull & Humber, Qingdao, Spirit of Australia, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Cape Breton Island and California are due to finish in the next few days and are all expected in Cape Town by Sunday afternoon.

The whole fleet will move to the V&A Waterfront on Friday 20 November where the yachts will be available for public viewing. The race will restart on Sunday 22 November, the yachts departing the V&A at 11am for start of the race from Cape Town to Geraldton-Greenhough, Western Australia, at 2pm.

Photo: Clipper Ventures PLC

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If you’re in Cape Town, make your way to marina. Say hello to crews for me.

Sep 16

The Clipper Round the World Race 09-10

It’s on!

It’s been a long wait, and finally there’s action! The Clipper Round the World Race 09-10 started from Hull last weekend.

There were thousands of people seeing the boats and crews off. It was truly a spectacular event with Red Arrow jet aerobatics show, concerts and finally the clipper parade and race start.

It’s amazing to know that I will be on one of those boats in two years time! If I’d ever end up lacking motivation to work for securing the berth (which I doubt), I’ll just think about twinkling eyes of those crew members who I met in Hull. They all were full of excitement, anticipation and energy – and totally ready to break everyday comfort zones. Read more