Race Program

Over the two year campaign I aim to train and take part in as many qualifying races as possible, I hope to base the boat between the UK and Brittany France so will take part predominately in the Atlantic races. The races I aim to take part in are:-

2010 Race schedule
1000 Nm Qualification
Pornichet Select	Pornichet - Belle-île - Yeu - Port Bourgenay - Groix - Pornichet
Mini Pavois	La Rochelle - Gijon - La Rochelle
UK Mini Fastnet	Plymouth - Phare d'Eddystone - Bouée Needles - Phare de Bishop - Rocher du Fastnet - Cork - Plymouth
Hexis cup le grand	Départ de la Grande Motte - Les îles Mèdes - Île Sa Dragonera (NO de Mallorca) - Barcelone - Les Îles Mèdes - Porquerolles - arrivée à la Grande Motte
Transgascogne	Port Bourgenay - Ribadeo - Port Bourgenay
Azors

The Challenge

The Mini Transat or Open 6.50 is a modern and technical 21ft yacht, designed specifically for single handed offshore racing.

The 6.50 Transat began back in 1977 and has been held bi-annually since with interest, participation and coverage growing since. Each transatlantic race has been limited to 80 fiercely competitively challenged places.

The race began as a more affordable option to the up and coming offshore racer, but has progressed into what many professional sailors believe to be one of the most formidable and toughest races. And it has proven to be an excellent stepping stone for many of today’s elite racers.

Qualification involves completing in single and double handed offshore races and finishing a non-stop 1000 nautical mile set single handed passage. This leads up to the Transatlantic in September 2011, which is a 4300 nautical mile race and over 30 day at sea in two stages. Starting in La Rochelle, France down to the stop over at the Canary Islands off the West Spanish coast. From there following the trade winds to a waypoint of the Cape Verder island before crossing the famous doldrums before finishing in Salvador Brazil.

Personal Challenge

Top 10 Prototype finish in the 2011 Transat!

This is a tall order as there are many new, lighter and technical boats in the fleet, but I believe Night Fever is an excellent platform for me to achieve a great result

The Challenge

The Mini Transat or Open 6.50 is a modern and technical 21ft yacht, designed specifically for single handed offshore racing.

The 6.50 Transat began back in 1977 and has been held bi-annually since with interest, participation and coverage growing since. Each transatlantic race has been limited to 80 fiercely competitively challenged places.

The race began as a more affordable option to the up and coming offshore racer, but has progressed into what many professional sailors believe to be one of the most formidable and toughest races. And it has proven to be an excellent stepping stone for many of today’s elite racers.

Qualification involves completing in single and double handed off shores and finishing a non-stop 1000 nautical miles set single handed passage. This leads up to the Transatlantic in September 2011, which is a 4300 nautical mile race and over 30 day at sea in two stages. Starting in La Rochelle, France down to the stop over at the Canary Islands off the West Moroccan coast. From there following the trade winds to a waypoint of the Cape Verder island before crossing the famous doldrums before finishing in Salvador Brazil.

About Me

I have sailed all my life and have been sailing professionally for the last 5 years, sailing aboard a large range of racing yachts. I grew up through youth dingy racing and national/European events.I made the step to keel boat and have taken part in many high profiled inshore events including;Maxi Giralia cup (1st in Class Wally maxi), Maxi worlds (2nd in class Wally Maxi), Les voiles de Saint Tropez (3rd in Class Wally Maxi), Newport (3rd in Class Swan 601), Antigua (2nd in Class Swan 601), Cowes and Cork race weeks (Youth team), European championships in SB3’s, IRC and IRM nationals.

My real interest is in offshore racing, most recently completing Newport Bermuda race (1st Class Zero 601), 2007 Transatlantic (3rd, Wally Max), Giralia Offshore (1st in Class), 2 RORC offshore series and Fastnet (3rd in Class Youth team)

I have had input in all positions whilst racing but have spent most of my time as bowman, which I think gears you up well for the mini transat.

I have spent the last 4 year working full time on a range of different boats. This has allowed me to raise the profile of my sailing and take my experience to a new level. I have been the boat builder and rigger in the different projects I have been involved in, which will come in very hand racing singlehanded.

I also having a degree in Sports engineering, specialising my final year on Hydrodynamics and keel designs/development for the Mini Transat. After this I worked for a marine engineering/boat building company and was involved in many unique yacht development projects, these included one off mast builds, 2006 Volvo navigational domes and hull research and development models for the 2007 Americas cup.

Other projects included running a Humphry’s 40 race boat project, a race conversion of a Swan 65, working on complex structural laminating, rig setup and deck gear fitting and a full refit of a Sydney 60.

I have worked hard and saved for many years to finally buy my boat Night Fever in June 2009. I have self funded my self up to now as I wanted to show my personal commitment to my campaign. I have spent the second half of the 2009 training and sailing between the Uk and the West coast of France trying to get good practice miles behind me. At the End of the 2009 season I took part in my first race in Medoc.

Now in 2010 after a full refit over the winter, customizing the specifically to suit my sailing style I have taken part in 3 major events. The Demi Cle, Pornichet Select and the MAP. Next week I have the Mini Fastnet and then later in the season the Azores race from Les Sables to Azores and back. I am happy with the results I have achieved generally finishing around 10th out of 50. I think this means I am sailing well as I am out performing the boat I am in. Night Fever is great, but is an older, water-ballasted, not canting keel boat and out of the boats similar to fine I am always first back. Promising for the future!

As well as the Mini, I am still heavily involved with the racing on the Wally and have 3 events this season. I am also looking to the future for other project I hope to take part in. I really have the multi hull bug and eventually hope to race trimarans. For 2012 I want to put together a campaign to take part in the Archipelago raid, 5 days racing around Swedish coast in an F18.

The Boat

The Mini Transat has progressed into two fleets, the production boats and the prototype boats.  Through my studies of the mini and my time boat building and engineering I have gained a keen interest in yacht innovation and progression, this is why I opted for the prototype.  The box rule allows different building materials and mechanical system (i.e. carbon and swing keels).

 

Year	2006
Length	6.50m/21ft
Designer	Villenave
Builder	CLP Marine
Construction	Carbon/Epoxy/Airex
Spars	Carbon/Epoxy
Sails	All Purpose Pentex
Rigging	PBO

 

So I have encountered my first mini storm and trying to head directly to windward.  Hard work but great fun.  A few breakage but all part of it.  Auto pilot decided not to work so 3 days of balancing the boat and hand steering.  I'm learning loads and having a great time....