So a new year and now we are total focused on solo training down in La Grande Motte. After arrived two days in advance to get the boats ready to sail, a full five days on the water of speed testing was what lay ahead.



This isn’t speed testing as I’ve known before or most sailor will have had the opportunity to do. Because the Figaro is such a strict one design the boat are very similar and everyone pushes them very hard. It ís the tiny details that will get you that 0.1 of a knot of boat speed that makes the difference. So instead of the traditional 15-20 tuning run, we drag race for 1 to 2 hours for 10 miles or more. Everyone relentlessly tries to edge passed the boat next to each other.

Our coach Nico provides a great opportunity to be able to get off your boat and have a look at your sails from the powerboat. It got to one point on Tuesday when 3/4 of the sailors were in the RIB, with the Figaros happily sailing along in the upwind tuning run!

Luckily the sophisticated electronics and GPS allows us as a training group, to see exactly who was faster once we return to the classroom. As even after 10miles it ís not always clear with boats finishing very close.

This is important preparation for the events ahead of me with the longer offshore legs where boat speed is paramount to get the edge on the next boat.


#AOAsolo

Now at the end of the week, I had the weekend spare to carry out some repairs, such as my broken mast foot, apparently a common problem with the Figaros. In true solo fashion my Artemis comrades were all previously engaged with time out with their girlfriends, which left me to take on the challenge by myself. Having not been involved in a lot of stepping of rigs it was an interesting adventure for me. Removing the ropes, rigging and electrics than all stop the rig from being lifted. Lifting out the rig with the hoist and swapping the mast foot out. Then re-tuning the rig, re-run the ropes, re-solder the electrics. The old saying is true…it took minutes to take apart but the rest of the day to put back together!

With that work all done I’m heading back for a week at my job in the UK, knowing that 21 it good to go when I come back down.

AC