Mike Perham at sea for 24 hours, is this his real record?

I would be interested to know other peoples thoughts on his choice of boat. Although of an older generation his Open 50 yacht is still a very powerful, hard work to sail and not that seaworthy. These boats can be very safe and seaworthy, but only when handled correctly by experienced people.

Don't get me know I fully support the young chap. One also has to question leaving this late - he will get to the Southern Indian and Pacific oceans far past the best times.
 
A better boat perhaps??

http://www.owenclarkedesign.com/da/14517

I looked at buying this from Niah Vaughan about 12 years ago. We couldn't agree a price unfotunately. She is in todays terms, a very high performance cruiser...an ocean going Sigma 38 almost. Or at least that was how I looked at her. . Great boat, been round 3 times plus numerous transats with a wind vane to boot!!
 
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I would be interested to know other peoples thoughts on his choice of boat.

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Poor.

Or rather, possibly ok, but not with the very brief workup. The fact that he sailed it solo only once before leaving, and not at night, speaks volumes.

The lad clearly wants a career as a solo ocean racer, and fair play to him. But why go through with these stunts when there is a perfectly good and well proven way into that with the mini transat and figaro circuit? A mini campaign would have been a fraction of the price and would have gained him an awful lot more respect from the shorthanded fraternity than a non competitive sail around the world, which is really risking a lot, not least his life.

If he makes it, he'll have some instant fame in the UK courtesy of the tabloids with a lot of "new Ellen" hype, which might help him get sponsorship for an open 60 campaign, but that really is running before you can crawl. Look at Jonny Malbron. He's been around open 60s for years as boat captain, but has only just stepped up to skipper with a brand new boat and as a result is being utterly taken to school by Sam Davies who has an old boat but who is a vetran of (and race winner in) the figaro circuit.
 
Flaming I agree 100% with everything you say except your description of Jonny as a Boat Captain, I know that it seems to be fashionable to knock Jonny on various forums at present, but he has done far more than you suggest, part of the very successful EDS campaign, then campaigning Kingfisher two handed as Team 888, as well as competing in the Oryx Quest.

Jonny is doing a great job getting Artemis round with the worst possible built up. There are lots of issues with the Artemis campaign but most of them don't lay at Jonnys door
 
Yet still not solo on a 60 before this race, which is the ultimate test is it not?

I don't doubt that he's a better sailor than he is given credit for in many places, and is still in the race, which many did not expect...
But my point is that the skippers who have come through the mini and figaro circuits are currently out-performing those who jumped straight in with 2 feet. How many of those who are underperforming (Vs Budget) do you think will find it easy to get sponsorship next time out?

If I was 15 and planning on a career in offshore solo racing (and had a family seemingly prepared to sink cash into this idea) I'd be buying a mini and trying to qualify for the mini transat.
What I definitely wouldn't do is set off round the world on an open 50 with a shoestring budget!
 
Flamming agree with all your points the route is no doubt a mini or figaro or both (see my earlier posts on Mike Perham)

Jonny may have had a very different Vendee if the boat had been ready for the Artemis Transat, delighted to see Sam doing so well, and whilst Mark Turner at offshore challenges must be feeling pretty low with Seb's retirement he must feel proud having steered Sam through her "formative years"

Because Sam has a well organised campaign she is competing in a boat that although old is fast having won the last two editions. It is great seeing her doing so well.

My point was simple that it has become a little fashionable to knock Jonny and I am biased, but personally think he has huge balls competing in the Vendee in a untested 60. The budget may have been large but the campaign hasn't been well run.

Not always sure that sponsors purely look at results, I have a feeling that if the credit crunch eases a little you might see dee and Aviva 2 compete in the next edition.
 
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