Solo Concarneau 201216 - 05 - 12
After a less than ideal start to my Figaro career in Les Sables, I was keen to put in a performance that I was happy with. I got off to a good start round the first mark in 6th, and settled into around 10th in the few hours after the start. As we passed through the infamous Raz de Sein, with a full 4 knots of tide against I managed to keep with the leading pack as we scooted up the inside next to the lighthouse, precariously close, I could have touched it…
A plus, not A +07 - 05 - 12
So it seems the first order of business this week is to clear up a misunderstanding over what has previously been my ‘sign off’ to most of my blogs since starting at the Artemis Offshore Academy. One of the great thing’s about being based in France and mingling with french sailors, coaches and locals, is that slowly but surely I am picking up bits of the language here and there.
37 refit28 - 04 - 12
So the guy’s have now been racing a full week in the AG2R and as I type they are just rounding the only mark of the course, La Palma to starboard, having a great race in 8th place and still in touch with the leading pack. Still all to play for from here. Back in Lorient I have been working on making sure my boat is ready for the next race on the calendar, the Solo Concarneau starting on the 10th May.
Transat AG2R start day21 - 04 - 12
For the last few weeks the main focus in the team has been the start of the AG2R with Sam and Nick, the 3,900nm double-handed transatlantic race, starting from Concarneau where we are based and finishing in St Barts in the Caribbean, leaving La Palma in the Canaries to starboard along the way.
J80 Team Baltic do Spi Ouest 201211 - 04 - 12
Sitting in the deserted crew house, (yes I have the whole house to myself woo hoo!) eating my way through a mound of Fajitas all by myself (serves 4) it’s time to reflect on my little excursion away from the Figaro and single handed sailing and my ever so quick foray back into fully crewed sports boat racing.
Mid week report from Spi Ouest, J80 Team Baltic08 - 04 - 12
So we are halfway through the week (Sunday 8th April) , and besides a few mishaps Team Baltic are generally in good shape and learning a lot from our only training regatta before the World Championships this summer.
A whole different ball game05 - 04 - 12
This weekend the Artemis Offshore Academy Figaro squad got their pose on with the main attraction being our heli shoot. It was a first for me, so it was pretty cool to have the heli buzzing overhead while we ducked and dived in formation under the careful orchestration of Mr Nicolas Cherry.
iPads and headtorches26 - 03 - 12
So it’s Monday blog time and this week I can report that a very relaxing week off has been enjoyed in the spring sunshine with some great walks around the New Forest, Beaulieu and Bucklers Hard.
First day at school20 - 03 - 12
The final build up to the Solo Figaro Massif Marine was a tense few days for me, I was experiencing a totally different start to anything I had done before. It was so cool to be a part of the race, my first solo race, in a port as prestigious as Les Sables d’Olonne, against such big names, guys I have read about for years and followed. Daunting, but hugely exciting in many ways.
Final preparations13 - 03 - 12
So here we are just a few days before the start of my first solo race. All in all I am feeling pretty well prepared, my boats in good shape, a few jobs to do before the start but nothing to major.
When in Les Sables d’Olonne06 - 03 - 12
So just a few days ago we arrived in the Les Sables d’Olonne. Re-rigging the boats and putting them back together after completely stripping them for trucking has kept us busy for the first few days, with only rain preventing play.
Heading north to colder climes27 - 02 - 12
So our time in now the sunny and glorious La Grande Motte is over. Our boats are all but packed away and our journey north commences.
Our last weekend of training in La Grande Motte20 - 02 - 12
So there is just one week of training left in La Grande Motte, and 24 days until our first race of the season and my first ever solo race. Time has flown by so quickly here it’s nuts to think we have been here 3 months.
Ribena slush puppies12 - 02 - 12
So last night the Aaron Cooper Racing and I decided to challenge ourselves with a bit of night sailing.
New faces, heart beats and fine margins23 - 01 - 12
After an afternoon of shoddy manoeuvres by everyone on the Monday and a telling off by Nico, Tuesday and Wednesday this week was spent on boat handling.
The long distance speed testing begins16 - 01 - 12
A week that began with great frustration with the continued ballast problems has hopefully now been solved.
Shorebased training with the Artemis Offshore Academy10 - 01 - 12
Shorebased training with the Artemis Offshore Academy before heading down to La Grande Motte.
2011 season review04 - 01 - 12
As we enter the brave new world of 2012 it seems fitting to look back at 2011 and the amazing adventures I have been fortunate enough to be involved with over the last 12 months.
As the great Noddy Holler would say, IT’S CHRISTMAS!19 - 12 - 11
The on the water training for 2011 is over….
Getting in the hours12 - 12 - 11
With the Paris boat show on this week, most of the guys decided to head back to the UK either to go back to work, catch up on home life, or complete crazy ultra marathons.
A day in the life of an Artemis Offshore Academy sailor04 - 12 - 11
Since joining the Artemis Offshore Academy in early November time has literally flown by.
Into the second week…29 - 11 - 11
Our second week has begun here in La Grande Motte and everyone is starting to get into the routine of sailing full time.
First week at the Artemis Offshore Academy15 - 11 - 11
Our first week as part of the Artemis Offshore Academy has been highly productive, with a lot of lessons being learnt, most the hard way.
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