Update from Artemis Offshore Academy Performance Director, John Thorn, as the Development Squad get their first taste of winter training at the Centre D’Entrainment (CEM) in La Grande Motte [13th December 2010]:
The hard work here in France is paying off as the majority of the Artemis Offshore Academy Figaro boats were ready for their first sail in the Golfe du Lyon on Monday, 6th December. The boats ventured out into a light northerly breeze but with a significant swell left over from the previous Sunday’s gale.
La
Grande Motte is in a unique location, being mostly out of the firing line of
the Tramontane [classical name for a northern wind] and the Mistral [strong
winds from the north or north-west that occur in the south of France] that
traditionally effect the Golfe du Lyon. That’s not to say these storm-force
conditions will never reach us, but the risk is less here, making it a very
reliable venue for winter training. We can also experience the Marin here [wind
blowing from the south-east onto the shore], which is what we experienced on
the previous Sunday. We had 30-40 knots of wind and breaking waves across the
entrance to the harbour. In these conditions, above all others, it is prudent
to stay shore based rather than risking a potential collision with the rocks
just outside the harbour!
Last Monday also saw Pip Hare’s Mini Class Pogo2 being launched and the mast stepped, ready to begin the Mini training programme that starts this week. The Artemis Pogo2 will also be ready imminently, with final preparations on the instrumentation wiring being carried out. Becky Scott is working very hard on this project and is eager to get the boat into the water as soon as possible.
The week progressed well with some inshore sailing practice, boat and container organisation, Yachtmaster training and an overnight offshore solo training sail for Simon Hiscock and Nick Cherry on Wednesday. The trip saw the duo reach 10 miles along the coast towards Séte, before heading 30-miles offshore to a turning mark in the Golf du Lyon, then beating back towards La Grande Motte. They finished early morning on Thursday - tired but having been able to put into practice some of the Adrena training theory [an electronic system that Figaro’s use], as well as building experience of solo sailing at night.
Friday saw the Artemis Mini going for it’s first sail with Becky and Simon on board. Wall to wall blue skies and sunshine with a northwesterly breeze of 12-16 knots, made for champagne sailing conditions! The Minis are now fully launched on their CEM training programme, with a multinational group of 8 sailors.
This week will see the Artemis Offshore Academy Development Squad tackling the CEM training programme including physical assessments, early morning gym sessions and some coastal navigation. Some of the Squad will return to the UK at the end of this week whilst a few are staying on for a local regatta called the Coup de Noel – that’s the ‘Christmas Cup’ to you and me! A reminder that despite the sunshine and blues skies, Christmas is just around the corner!
