Fastnet 2009 - the morning after

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.