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.
Monday, 10 August 2009
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...
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