I spoke to Peter this morning after he'd finally had a proper night's sleep (he says he never slept more than 90 mins at a time during the race). All sounded very jolly - Irish music blaring from the deck speakers across the Barbican of Plymouth whose marina is being used for the end of the Fastnet for the first time. They are moored right next to Hydrocarbon, the First 50 they beat in by 60 secs yesterday after both crews kept each other going through a long and tedious day. Nisida cheered Hydrocarbon over the line, and in return Hydrocarbon came on board with a case of beer. Rolex also (in a very welcome new development) provided a case of beer so the mood on board was very merry very quickly.
There are lots of boats still out on the course (even some class zeros), who will now be getting some good wind. However for many of them the prize giving this afternoon will come too early. Nisida wont be getting a prize (by my reckoning she will have come third in the sailing school category, but they only give prizes for first) but the crew will be celebrating finishing what by all accounts was an excellent if occasionally challenging race. It took them just under 24 hours longer than it did us two years ago, with much of that exta time spent doing the last 50 miles.
Nisida's crew were clearly less obssessed with Orca during the race than I was back home and I struggled to get any info out of them about her. Anyway Orca beat Nisida into Plymouth but they could see her at the finish - so I was right there.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Fastnet 2009 - finished!
Nisida finished the Fastnet today at just after 6pm - a sea breeze thankfully taking them over the line just ahead of Hydrocarbon - a First 50 they had been racing against since the Rock and who kept them going those last painful hours since day break today
I learnt this from a very excited and happy Serena and Beverley, who I managed to speak to as they were showering off 5 days of boat living. Wish that I could have spoken to them during the race as my emails would have been far more interesting than what I gleaned from a skipper very focused on weather.
Nisida was the 50th boat to finish the Fastnet - out of 300 that is fantastic! Handicap results are what they are but finishing in time for them to enjoy tonight in Plymouth is a big bonus. Serena and Beverley thought their mooring right under the Barbican was great - lots of restaurants and bars in crawling distance. Peter when I later spoke to him was less excited - he says it will be very noisy. I reckon he is so tired he wont notice.
Peter did say the crew has been huge fun. I am sure the celebrations for the eight of them who have just acheived their first ever Fastnet finish will last long enough for us to celebrate with them in the club.
I learnt this from a very excited and happy Serena and Beverley, who I managed to speak to as they were showering off 5 days of boat living. Wish that I could have spoken to them during the race as my emails would have been far more interesting than what I gleaned from a skipper very focused on weather.
Nisida was the 50th boat to finish the Fastnet - out of 300 that is fantastic! Handicap results are what they are but finishing in time for them to enjoy tonight in Plymouth is a big bonus. Serena and Beverley thought their mooring right under the Barbican was great - lots of restaurants and bars in crawling distance. Peter when I later spoke to him was less excited - he says it will be very noisy. I reckon he is so tired he wont notice.
Peter did say the crew has been huge fun. I am sure the celebrations for the eight of them who have just acheived their first ever Fastnet finish will last long enough for us to celebrate with them in the club.
Fastnet 2009 - so near and yet so far...
I spoke to Peter on the phone late this morning and he said their speed had droped to 3.5 knots and the tide was about to turn against them. I couldnt offer any hope that the wind would improve (until tomorrow sometime) so they will just have to wait for the turn of the tide at 6 this evening to get them home.
Meanwhile all the faster boats in the class are safely in Plymouth and Nisida is slipping down the rankings - while the boats behind have caught up. It's just been one of those Fastnets - but that's offshore sailing for you.
On a positive note as I predicted they were indeed back next to Orca....but at least Orca has lots of other nearly matched Class 40s to race against without worrying too much about the vagaries of the handicap system. Rest assured though, we will not be swapping Nisida for a Class 40 - they only sleep about 4.
Fingers crossed they make it for closing time this eveing, but that Tesco curry is looking like it might have to be dinner.
Meanwhile all the faster boats in the class are safely in Plymouth and Nisida is slipping down the rankings - while the boats behind have caught up. It's just been one of those Fastnets - but that's offshore sailing for you.
On a positive note as I predicted they were indeed back next to Orca....but at least Orca has lots of other nearly matched Class 40s to race against without worrying too much about the vagaries of the handicap system. Rest assured though, we will not be swapping Nisida for a Class 40 - they only sleep about 4.
Fingers crossed they make it for closing time this eveing, but that Tesco curry is looking like it might have to be dinner.
Fastnet 2009 - past the Lizard
At 0900 this morning Nisida looks finally to have passed the Lizard on the home strait. Progress slowed overnight after reaching Bishops Rock just after midnight as the wind died and the out going tide held back speed over the ground.
They look to be in lots of company still - and I'm pretty sure that at first light today they will have seen they have caught Orca back up - indeed on the tracker they look pretty much on top of each other.
The wind is likely to stay fairly light all day but with luck there should be enough to see them home before dinner. It's going to be another tough day for those of us watching the tracker from the comfort of our desks.
.
They look to be in lots of company still - and I'm pretty sure that at first light today they will have seen they have caught Orca back up - indeed on the tracker they look pretty much on top of each other.
The wind is likely to stay fairly light all day but with luck there should be enough to see them home before dinner. It's going to be another tough day for those of us watching the tracker from the comfort of our desks.
.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Fastnet 2009 - Nisida en fast route home
I spoke to Peter at lunchtime - his lap top isn't giving him weather so he has to rely on my rather more vague analysis (plenty of wind today, staying westerly and dropping overnight and less wind as you get towards Plymouth). They were romping along under the reaching spinnaker - but the bad news is theat Orca has been rompling much faster. Richard radioed Peter as they shot past on a Class 40's favourite point of sail
But it's not over yet. Once they round Bishop's Rock the wind will be pretty much dead astern and on that point of sailing Nisida is much faster than Orca, especially in lighter wind (after Cowes Week we are intimately acquainted with Orca's relative speed on every point of sail and in every wind strength). I'm still puting money on them being in sight of each other at the finish line
Peter reckons to round Bishop Rock sometime after midnight tonight. He's then got until 11.30am tomorrow to beat our 29 hour trip back of 2 years ago (Peter's fastest ever). Given the wind direction and forecast, and the tide liekly to turn against them by then, that's a long shot, but they will be aiming to be safely tied up in harbour by tomorrow night and to be saved moving onto the spare 5th dinner of tinned Tesco curry. Or more to the point they will hope to be enjoying a well earned beer.
But it's not over yet. Once they round Bishop's Rock the wind will be pretty much dead astern and on that point of sailing Nisida is much faster than Orca, especially in lighter wind (after Cowes Week we are intimately acquainted with Orca's relative speed on every point of sail and in every wind strength). I'm still puting money on them being in sight of each other at the finish line
Peter reckons to round Bishop Rock sometime after midnight tonight. He's then got until 11.30am tomorrow to beat our 29 hour trip back of 2 years ago (Peter's fastest ever). Given the wind direction and forecast, and the tide liekly to turn against them by then, that's a long shot, but they will be aiming to be safely tied up in harbour by tomorrow night and to be saved moving onto the spare 5th dinner of tinned Tesco curry. Or more to the point they will hope to be enjoying a well earned beer.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Fastnet 2009 - Nisida round the Rock
Nisida round the Fastnet Rock at 629 this morning - in fog and with the radar on. The north-westerly wind of early yesterday duly backed as forecast and they got round rather earlier than looked likely 24 hours ago.
I spoke to Peter on the mobile and he said they had c 15 knots of wind from the south west and were hoping to hold the reacher once they rounded the spreader mark. If they can hold this they will start to overhaul more boats. But those of you following the tracker dont believe they have suddenly shot up to 13th place on handicap - the tracker has got confused by a 180 degree turn and now puts those furthest past the rock as last. I reckon though they have gone up from 41st yesterday to about 30th.
Inevitably, for those of you who raced the Middle Sea Race or Cowes Week with us, one boat they saw on rounding the rock was Orca. Orca is a Class 40 boat owned by a member of Ranelagh, Richard Tolkein. Nisida won the race to the Rock - I bet it's still close at Plymouth
Two years ago the trip back from the Rock took us 29 hours. It wont be that fast this time, especially as the winds are now forecast to drop - especially tomorrow. But my gloomy forecasts of food rationing as discussed with our Commodore last night (he was musing as to which one of the crew you would eat first) shouldn't have to come to reality.
Back to tracker watching
I spoke to Peter on the mobile and he said they had c 15 knots of wind from the south west and were hoping to hold the reacher once they rounded the spreader mark. If they can hold this they will start to overhaul more boats. But those of you following the tracker dont believe they have suddenly shot up to 13th place on handicap - the tracker has got confused by a 180 degree turn and now puts those furthest past the rock as last. I reckon though they have gone up from 41st yesterday to about 30th.
Inevitably, for those of you who raced the Middle Sea Race or Cowes Week with us, one boat they saw on rounding the rock was Orca. Orca is a Class 40 boat owned by a member of Ranelagh, Richard Tolkein. Nisida won the race to the Rock - I bet it's still close at Plymouth
Two years ago the trip back from the Rock took us 29 hours. It wont be that fast this time, especially as the winds are now forecast to drop - especially tomorrow. But my gloomy forecasts of food rationing as discussed with our Commodore last night (he was musing as to which one of the crew you would eat first) shouldn't have to come to reality.
Back to tracker watching
Fastnet 2009 night 2
Email from Peter this morning :-
Came out between the Scillies and the Seven Stones having ended up a long way S of Runnelstone. We had tacked in towards Mounts Bay for a while then headed out and were looking to tack back but we just got lifted and lifted so we caried on until we were nearly aiming at the Fastnet so saw no need to tack. We seemed to lose Desperado in the night so I don't know how we're doing re the others. Currently nearly aiming at the rock in a NNW3.
All cheerful and happy on board. I am just about to log on to get some weather info. Talk this evening if not before.
Desperado seems to have got away from them and is well to the north west. Ditto Hydrocarbon, a First 50 who they had been just ahead of. Orca got to the north of them during the night and unless the wind shifts further is probably ahead of them for the first time. Cant quite see from their track where they lost out. Thy are now 37/58 in class - all will change once they finally get their spinnaker up but it does look like it's going to be a beat all the way to the Rock.
Came out between the Scillies and the Seven Stones having ended up a long way S of Runnelstone. We had tacked in towards Mounts Bay for a while then headed out and were looking to tack back but we just got lifted and lifted so we caried on until we were nearly aiming at the Fastnet so saw no need to tack. We seemed to lose Desperado in the night so I don't know how we're doing re the others. Currently nearly aiming at the rock in a NNW3.
All cheerful and happy on board. I am just about to log on to get some weather info. Talk this evening if not before.
Desperado seems to have got away from them and is well to the north west. Ditto Hydrocarbon, a First 50 who they had been just ahead of. Orca got to the north of them during the night and unless the wind shifts further is probably ahead of them for the first time. Cant quite see from their track where they lost out. Thy are now 37/58 in class - all will change once they finally get their spinnaker up but it does look like it's going to be a beat all the way to the Rock.
Monday, 10 August 2009
Nisida's Fastnet 2009 - day 2
Nisida spent today tacking along the south west coast of England, rounding Start Point and, at the last (2100 UTC) update, the Lizard. Email correspondence from them has been nil but I have had two phone calls from Peter. The frustratingly light winds of last night were replaced by a strong south westerly and they changed down to their no 3 (not good news, it's our dacron cruising sail as our nearly new racing one disintegrated and we're awaiting a replacemnt), and put a reef in the main. They are back to full sails now and heading west round the Lizard against another foul tide.
What hasn't changed is their battle with Orca. Orca is a Class 40 that we spent Cowes Week and the last Middle Sea Race racing extraordinarily closely with. Nisida finally got ahead of her today but I'd put money on them rounding the Fastnet together.
By tomorrow morning Nisida should be away from the stress of tidal gates - but into the shipping lanes. We are hoping to get a voice link up with her tomororow night, with Peter broadcasting to the club on how the race has gone so far.
What hasn't changed is their battle with Orca. Orca is a Class 40 that we spent Cowes Week and the last Middle Sea Race racing extraordinarily closely with. Nisida finally got ahead of her today but I'd put money on them rounding the Fastnet together.
By tomorrow morning Nisida should be away from the stress of tidal gates - but into the shipping lanes. We are hoping to get a voice link up with her tomororow night, with Peter broadcasting to the club on how the race has gone so far.
Fastnet 2009
Nisida - racing as Pi Nisida - set off on the Fastnet at 130pm yesterday. A sea breeze took them across Poole Bay at a good speed but by the time we were waching the (very addicitve) tracker in LCSC bar last night their gps speed was down to 1 knot as they tried to get round Portland Bill against a spring tide. Trudy and I were remembering that two years ago tidal gates did not feature in our race - in 30 plus knots of > wind they are irrelevant. I'll take 30 plus knots of wind any day.
I've had an email from Peter this morning saying they were now 15 miles off Start Point and beating in a SW4, that Serena had just made them bacon butties. I'll post his emails here and you can follow their progress on http://fastnet.rorc.org/2009-fleet-tracking.html - click on class IRC Z for Pi Nisida
I've had an email from Peter this morning saying they were now 15 miles off Start Point and beating in a SW4, that Serena had just made them bacon butties. I'll post his emails here and you can follow their progress on http://fastnet.rorc.org/2009-fleet-tracking.html - click on class IRC Z for Pi Nisida
Friday, 27 February 2009
Nisida 10th overall and 4th in class
Results of the Caribbean 600 are now published and are here http://caribbean600.rorc.org/results/2009/ov01.html. Nisida came a hugely creditable 10th overall and 4th out of 9 in class against some very tasty opposition.
Nisida finsihed Caribbean 600!
Nisida crossed the finishing line off Falmouth Harbour at 1438 local time, 75 hours 38 mins after starting on the 600 mile course. She was 14th of the 28 boats that started to finiish, and 5th of the 9 in class (IRC Z). First to finish in class, some 9 hours earlier, was Yeoman with LCSC member Louise Allhusen on board. There are no handicap results up - indeed currently no results of any sort and Nsida is now down on the tracking system as having finished 3rd in class so I think they are having problems with the website.
The last three legs saw them having an excellent battle with a French Class 40. These boats are lightening quick off the wind and overtook Nisi en route from Guadeloupe to the downwind mark west of Antigua, only for Nisida to overall them on the beat back up to the finish.
We spent yesterday evening watching their finish, via the fabulous tracking system, in the club bar. Peter was sending excited texts about catching the French while Joe Cross, out in Malta, was also glued to the tracker. Peter phoned me at midnight our time (8pm local) to say they'd put the boat away and were off to get outside some beers. The bar was promised to be open all night and with several boats due to finish last night I'm sure the partying went on for a while. No word yet today....
The last three legs saw them having an excellent battle with a French Class 40. These boats are lightening quick off the wind and overtook Nisi en route from Guadeloupe to the downwind mark west of Antigua, only for Nisida to overall them on the beat back up to the finish.
We spent yesterday evening watching their finish, via the fabulous tracking system, in the club bar. Peter was sending excited texts about catching the French while Joe Cross, out in Malta, was also glued to the tracker. Peter phoned me at midnight our time (8pm local) to say they'd put the boat away and were off to get outside some beers. The bar was promised to be open all night and with several boats due to finish last night I'm sure the partying went on for a while. No word yet today....
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Nisida's crew hope to be back in the bar this evening
Update from Peter to RORC this morning
We rounded North Sails mark at 0648. The Class 40 FRA6 was just ahead. 2 unidentified boats astern. Out of range for mobile phone, hence the email. Had reacing spi up for a while but the wind has now veered a bit so we're just white-sail reaching; 20' to Redonda. ETA at finish...this evening sometime.
He also commented on Scuttlebutt's confusion which I sent them copy of:-
This is very flattering. Anyway, in the best traditions of journalism, 'never let the truth get in the way of a good story'
We rounded North Sails mark at 0648. The Class 40 FRA6 was just ahead. 2 unidentified boats astern. Out of range for mobile phone, hence the email. Had reacing spi up for a while but the wind has now veered a bit so we're just white-sail reaching; 20' to Redonda. ETA at finish...this evening sometime.
He also commented on Scuttlebutt's confusion which I sent them copy of:-
This is very flattering. Anyway, in the best traditions of journalism, 'never let the truth get in the way of a good story'
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Scuttlebutt confused!
I've just been sent this email by Andy Oliver taken off Scuttlebutts' website. I've sent it to the crew to amuse them. I've explained to them that the tracking system had got confused - bit it's jolly nice that Scuttlebutts knew what else we've done.
In Class Zero, Peter Hopps' GY51, Nisida is in pole position. The boat races all over the world and won class in last year's Rolex Middle Sea Race. David Aisher's Rogers 46, Yeoman XXXII has had a set back after their terrific start: "During the night we got hit by a squall blowing out the A3 spinnaker." Commented David Aisher. "We were without a spinnaker for three hours but have now rounded the top of St. Martin and are screaming along at 20 knots plus on our way to Guadeloupe."
The one and only retirement so far is in Class Zero is Edward Krubasik's First 47.7, Gilly B who pulled into St. Eustacia over night. They have a broken gooseneck but all are well on board, if a little disappointed.
In Class Zero, Peter Hopps' GY51, Nisida is in pole position. The boat races all over the world and won class in last year's Rolex Middle Sea Race. David Aisher's Rogers 46, Yeoman XXXII has had a set back after their terrific start: "During the night we got hit by a squall blowing out the A3 spinnaker." Commented David Aisher. "We were without a spinnaker for three hours but have now rounded the top of St. Martin and are screaming along at 20 knots plus on our way to Guadeloupe."
The one and only retirement so far is in Class Zero is Edward Krubasik's First 47.7, Gilly B who pulled into St. Eustacia over night. They have a broken gooseneck but all are well on board, if a little disappointed.
Nisida south of Guadeloupe
Latest from Peter. My panic this morning that they would get becalmed on the west of the island was unfounded - but clearly it's been tricky since. They were doing over 11 knots at one point so it also must have been fun at times.
Agonisingly slow here at S end of Guadaloupe. Going a bit better now, but I don't expect to get round Desirade before about 9pm. After that we have a 95M reach to Barbuda, a 40M reach to Redonda, then a 40M beat to the finish. ETA sometime tomorrow evening.
Saw Isis earlier but everyone seems to have split here and we can't see anyone; no doubt we'll all meet again at Desirade. It's been hard work today, beating into F5-6 - hence not much comms. Hope it's fun watching...
Agonisingly slow here at S end of Guadaloupe. Going a bit better now, but I don't expect to get round Desirade before about 9pm. After that we have a 95M reach to Barbuda, a 40M reach to Redonda, then a 40M beat to the finish. ETA sometime tomorrow evening.
Saw Isis earlier but everyone seems to have split here and we can't see anyone; no doubt we'll all meet again at Desirade. It's been hard work today, beating into F5-6 - hence not much comms. Hope it's fun watching...
Update on progress
I got this brief email from Peter last night
As we passed St. Barts on the way out we saw Lee Ovrlay Partners coming the other way. Have spent the day going round St. Martens and are now on our way to Guadaloupe. On port tack, not quiye hard on but heling a lot making typing difficult.
It is a v scenic course and we have managed to pass most of the interesting places in daylight. I doubt if we're doing very well, but everyone is happy and they are enjoying themselves.
That will have to do for now.
Pete's clealry having a rather busier race than was the ARC (fair enough - we only tacked once and the boat was nice and upright the whole time). I'm hoping he's not finally getting some rest this morning as he's approaching Guadeloupe where there are clearly big wind shadows - boats ahead that are close in are doing c. 2 knots and Yeoman ahead of them did a big dive out after nearly stopping.
Spirit of Isis (not far ahead of Nisida) was clealry given the heads up on this as they've done an early dive west - I'm just hoping that Peter has seen this at daylight and follows them.
And they're not doing as badly as Peter fears (against very tasty competition they are mid fleet) - I think lots are having problems with wind shadows (something we've had a lot of practice with in the Med) - these volcanic islands are high!
As we passed St. Barts on the way out we saw Lee Ovrlay Partners coming the other way. Have spent the day going round St. Martens and are now on our way to Guadaloupe. On port tack, not quiye hard on but heling a lot making typing difficult.
It is a v scenic course and we have managed to pass most of the interesting places in daylight. I doubt if we're doing very well, but everyone is happy and they are enjoying themselves.
That will have to do for now.
Pete's clealry having a rather busier race than was the ARC (fair enough - we only tacked once and the boat was nice and upright the whole time). I'm hoping he's not finally getting some rest this morning as he's approaching Guadeloupe where there are clearly big wind shadows - boats ahead that are close in are doing c. 2 knots and Yeoman ahead of them did a big dive out after nearly stopping.
Spirit of Isis (not far ahead of Nisida) was clealry given the heads up on this as they've done an early dive west - I'm just hoping that Peter has seen this at daylight and follows them.
And they're not doing as badly as Peter fears (against very tasty competition they are mid fleet) - I think lots are having problems with wind shadows (something we've had a lot of practice with in the Med) - these volcanic islands are high!
Monday, 23 February 2009
Update from on board Nisida at 1916 our time today
Started ok but then the ring on the tack fitting for the headsail pulled out - a problem quickly solved but it marred the start a bit. Now approx 9M from the turning mark off Barbuda.
We have Gilly B in sight astern and a Class 40 which recently overtook us ahead. Glorious sailing - beam reaching in about 17-18 apparent.
All happy on board - sitting around on deck in a v Caribbean sort of way.
That's all for now.
Peter
We have Gilly B in sight astern and a Class 40 which recently overtook us ahead. Glorious sailing - beam reaching in about 17-18 apparent.
All happy on board - sitting around on deck in a v Caribbean sort of way.
That's all for now.
Peter
Sunday, 22 February 2009
RORC Caribbean 600
Nisida is currently in Antigua and wil start the new 600 mile RORC race round the Caribbean on Monday 23rd February - see http://caribbean600.rorc.org/. You can follow her progress on the race tracker - http://caribbean600.rorc.org/blog/race-information/tracking/index.html.
I'm expecting Peter to send emails during the race and I'll be posting these here.
I'm expecting Peter to send emails during the race and I'll be posting these here.
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