Jester Challenge 2026

[Helgafolkboot]

In 2022, I started 3 weeks late as I could not get to Plymouth by 8 May. The start next year is scheduled for 10 May, which is too early for me coming from the Baltic. Hopefully I may be able to start 2 weeks late. Last time the Ida Lewis Yacht Club really looked after me as the Newport Yacht Club was too busy to receive me. So I will anchor off the Ida Lewis rocks again. Really looking forward to trying it again in a different boat this time hopefully not so leaky, as plastic rather than wood.

 

[Gargleblaster]

Yes, I think the 8 May or 10 May this year is still too early for the start. There are still significant lows around and just below 50 deg N until late May or early June. We should really wait until the Jetstream starts passing north of Scotland.

My 25 feet Invicta has only 12 inches of freeboard around the cockpit and in 2022 I was swamped repeatedly in 7 metre waves until all my bilge pumps gave up about 800 miles SW of the Lizard and I was down to 46deg N when it happened. I wonder if I had left when you did in 2022 if I would have made it?