The Jester Challange - How it was for the sailors!

Sea Devil

Sea Devil

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Boulogne sur mer & Marbella Spain, Guadeloupe
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The site - http://www.jesterinfo.org/onreflection.html has come up a wonderful log by the first boat homes skipper Eric Andlauer -- If you have never single handed or crossed a ocean in a small boat then it is a must read... Actually even if you have it is still a must read - wonderful account. The 2nd boat in Pete Hill has a much shorter one - interestingly different style.

Other 'competitors' also write of their adventure....

Considering the discussions recently about 'storm' sails and towed generators there is something to be learned.

Hope you enjoy the new improved Jester Web site as much as I do

Michael
 
Intellectually the JC interests me, I'm always interested to hear first hand accounts of the exploits of those who are much braver than me and I found some of the observations about the handling of heavy weather very enlightening.

Do they interest me more than that? No, I'm beginning to know my limitations and these include not wanting to singlehand, not wanting to spend unnecessarily long on passages esp in tiny boats and particularly trying to avoid the kind of conditions that these guys seem to revel in. If that means abandoning some destinations that intellectually I'd love to try then so be it. I admire these guys but have no desire to emulate them.
 
Re: The Jester Challenge - How it was for the sailors!

What a great read. It brought back many a memory for me.

To answer your question, I seriously considered doing it but financial circumstances kept me firmly attached to land. If all goes to plan in the next few years, I will be very keen to sail the 50th anniversary Jester Challenge.
 
and indeed if the Jester Challenge interests them or not

Oh yes. Yes indeedy.

At the moment, neither I nor my boat are up to it. But we have four years.

2007/8 - buy a suitable boat (even the Jester won't take my 18 footer, thank goodness!). Currently thinking of a 24' centreboarder.

2008 - Coastal & Estuary sailing for boat & I to become comfortable with each other. I need to be looking at self-steering.

2009 - A solid 500-mile passage, probably North Sea. Learn to use a sextant (I know, I know... but I'm fascinated by that kind of arcane skill. But getting a Sun sight in the North Sea?)

2010 - Jester!

It's by no means certain that all will go to plan, including where will my career be in 2010. But it's a tremendous thing to aim for...
 
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Learn to use a sextant (I know, I know... but I'm fascinated by that kind of arcane skill. But getting a Sun sight in the North

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Getting a sun sight in the North Sea or the North Atlantic is really a question of luck, season and weather. As someone who plays with celestial navigation, it's amazing how often on an otherwise cloudy day you can actually get a sun sight that is quite clear, even when you are going for a specific moment in time such as the meridien passage or noon sight.
I have never had the bad luck of Ernest Shackleton who I understand on his 62 day voyage in an open boat only managed two sights.
On a long single handed passage other than meals there is not much to look forward to each day other than the noon sight. In fact the noon sight can be more enjoyable than the meals which can take on a dreary sameness. At least for those who try to save battery power and exist without a fridge, I find the meals a little boring. A glass of wine at sunset does make up for the lack of pubs on a long passage.
 
" 2007/8 - buy a suitable boat (even the Jester won't take my 18 footer, thank goodness!). Currently thinking of a 24' centreboarder. "

Why a centreboarder? Surely a heavy displacement long keeler a la Contessa 26 would be better?
 
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Why a centreboarder? Surely a heavy displacement long keeler a la Contessa 26 would be better?

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Yes - if Jester was the sole focus of my sailing. But I'm East Coast & I like to get into muddy corners & be able to dry out. I'd love to have an old fashioned long keeler but I'm not convinced it's practical for my kind of day-to-day sailing waters. And currently I reckon centreboard beats bilge.
 
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Beneteau Figaro won it by miles...... bit of a lightweight then!

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But most definately not a centreboarder! If you saw the line up, failing any kind of damage it was kinda obvious that the frenchman was going to get there first ;-)
 
I like the look of long keel older boats - but then I tend to like old things - however it does show what you can do, relatively comfortably compared to the others, in a boat designed for the job..

God forbid that future Jesters have mainly, specially designed, modern single handers. Sadly so few people seem interested in what must be the 'best' event for cruising boats on the planet, it only matters that 'non professional' people participate and it is done for the fun of the challenge.

My statement about the Beneteau Figaro takes nothing away from Eric Andlauer who is a wonderful sailor and when you read his log you realise he 'raced' all the way. He deserved his first place...

Michael

I am just jealous of course as if I entered with my present 33ft cat he would still beat me hands down.... But with a smile and time for a beer when we got there! It's not a race its the 'doing it' that counts... I hope

Michael
 
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