Fastnet 2007 - Anyone from here taking part?

[Talulah]

Fastnet is less than two weeks away. We are entering in Talulah and I'm hoping the summer will start before then.
The original crew of 9 including myself is now down to 7 due to sea sickness in the qualifiers. The boat has been emptied of all surplas gear including books, crockery etc. (Less to come flying out of cupboards etc) and now the important task of what to put on the meal plan.
So how are other people getting on? Any special surprise treats for those onboard that I should be sneaking away?
For the first time all the entrants have to carry trackers. This could change the race positions of those at the back of the fleet. Last time to due to a foul tide and no wind we spent the last night anchored off the lizard whilst one boat with all nav lights off etc motored past. (They only cheated themselves.)

 

[PIGLETSDREAM]

You didn't need to go to all that fuss and nonsense, you could have popped round to Southsea, the posh end of the solent and I could have made you coffee and a meal on my Fastnet 34 and saved you all that huffing and puffing, a truly more beautiful boat I doubt exists.

 

[Georgio]

Thinking about it for 2009, what qualifiers did you have to do, is it a certain number of offshore races of a certain length??

 

[bilbobaggins]

[ QUOTE ]
Thinking about it....

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd best phone up the Racing Secy at The Royal Ocean Racing Club.....

( Royal Ocean Racing Club 20 St James's Place, London, SW1A 1NN. Tel: +44 (0)20 7493 2248, Fax: +44 (0)20 7493 5252, Email: info@rorc.org. www.rorc.org/fastnet/index.php )

....and persuade her to send you a copy of their Racing Handbook for this year. Most of what you need to know is in there. Then go down to Plymouth for the Finish, and listen to the stories of those who didn't start their engines - and those who did!

Enjoi the 2 Mars bars per day and salty tea, for a week, sitting on the rail in the rain in 2009....

"Eye spy wit' my leetl eye...."




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[Twister_Ken]

It can be 'fun'. I recall being repeatedly submerged, while changing a headsail somewhere west of Start Point, and not getting dry again until getting back to Plymouth and buying a set of new clothes.

 

[bilbobaggins]

'Ee! Think that's 'ard? When we wus a lad.......

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[PuffTheMagicDragon]

[ QUOTE ]
It can be 'fun'.

[/ QUOTE ]

Also described as "Like being in a washing machine on steroids"! (Although this was for a particular boat in a particular Rolex Middlesea Race).

Re the 'markers' that someone else mentioned, we have been installing Argos for many years now for the MiddleSea Race and still get the occasional cowboy who tries to 'cheat'. Very easily found out when they 'miss' an island.

One great advantage of the tracking beacons is that visitors to the official website can follow the course of any of the yachts in real(ish) time. The positions are updated every ten minutes or so. Maybe the Fastnet people have something similar?