Level 1 Training

WOW!!

 

CV7
Our boat for the week

I have just returned from a crazy week on a 68 ft ocean racing yacht with all the luxury down below of a 'ghetto'.  There were 11 of us, plus skipper and his mate, from all around the world; USA, Holland, Norway, Eire, France and the UK.  An eclectic mix of wonderful people who all brought something different to life on board.

 



My space - the bottom bunk
so I didn't have far to climb

Sleeping arrangements were 'cosy' with only the privacy of the blue lee cloth which was carefully hooked on before going to sleep.  Contrary to the information I had been given before, there was room to lie on my side in the bunk but if I sat up I hit my head on the mattress above me.  The noise from 11 people, some of whom snored quite loudly, was cacophonous, but having spent many years in various boarding schools the noise was quite familiar.  One of the crew, a singer, likened his experience to being at a choral concert where there were bass, baritone, soprano and alto singers all singing different tunes at the same time.  I'm glad I was asleep.

'Mother Watch' came into being for the first time.  Two people, one from each watch, are allocated domestic duty for one day.  This involves cooking, cleaning and keeping the boat tidy.  The food was excellent with enormous portions to keep everyone's energy levels up and I have to congratulate the two skippers for their menus though one of the crew wanted to put garlic in the scrambled egg at breakfast until it was hidden away.  Guess the nationality of this crew member - yep, you're right, French!!  All meals were eaten out of large bowls, on laps, as tables are superfluous to requirements on racing yachts.

 

Learning knots

The first three days were based at Gosport with days out into the Solent where the winds were relatively light.  Lots of drills and learning to be done, including the dreaded bowline which some of us found totally confusing as 12 other people tried to give their own instructions on the best way to tackle it.

 

 

Hanging of the bow

 



View of the Spinnaker Tower
on a very foggy morning 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Monday morning we woke to no wind and thick fog.  We continued with MOB (man overboard) drills with the casualty lying on the pontoon, a couple of mast climbs and some winch maintenance before heading back out into the Solent.  All fixing and the maintaining of equipment is down to the crew for the entire race so getting a handle of where cogs and bolts go is an important element of the whole trip. 

 

We eventually left Gosport Marina and headed out into the Solent for three days.  But where was the wind?  The day was spent motor sailing as we headed west to Portland - but we got no further than anchoring off Osborne House on the Isle of Wight  By this time it was a beautiful and warm spring day, but useless for sailing.  The fog came back in the evening and as we took it in turns to keep anchor watch during the night the noise from the foghorns of the enormous ships, cruise liners and car ferries sounded eerie as the boats slid silently past us, while we lay only a few hundred yards to the south in shallower water. 

 

After the fog and mist cleared it was a lovely April day.  For one of the Americans on board this was his first visit to Europe and we had to convince him that this balmy weather was not always the case and that when he returns in July for Levels 3 and 4 it may well be cold and stormy.

 

 

Lying at anchor with Osborne House on the IOW in the distance

Another day of drills and this time I took the opportunity to go into the water to recover an MOB.  Difficult, as I had forgotten to take the air out of the immersion suit so my feet kept rising to the surface.  It wasn't easy, and that was with no wind and no waves, so a totally unrealistic situation.  'Bob' the MOB dummy was tethered to the boat so I didn't have to struggle for too long but I was certainly shaking when I got back on board.

Sunset as we sailed back to our
mooring on Tuesday evening

 

 



 

 

Wednesday morning saw another windless day so we took the opportunity to revisit various evolutions including racing headsail changes, reefing practice and, for me, a trip up the mast.  It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be but as the sea was flat calm there wasn't any lateral movement up at the top.  I certainly had to trust the guys on the winches down below as my life was literally in their hands.  One slip of the winch .....  I was tied on with 2 halyards so a perfectly safe exercise!!

 

 

 



The view from 25 metres above the deck





Wednesday night was spent in Cowes where we enjoyed a pub meal at The Anchor.  Lots of singing and drinking and I think a good time was had by all.  The showers were certainly appreciated though only 3 days without showering is nothing compared to the weeks that we'll remain dirty for during the race.

A chance to helm

Thursday saw us heading back into Gosport where we had to deep clean the boat before getting to leave at around 4.00 pm.  Everything moveable and immoveable has to be washed or wiped, and anything that could be put on deck to clean was put on deck.  An onerous task but with 11 of us taking part it wasn't too bad.  I landed up having to clean the galley which was an arduous task as it was hot and humid down below, but worse when the floor boards were removed to be washed down and I had to balance on the fresh water tanks.

What a wonderful week I had and I have come away even more excited about my upcoming trip.  We were lucky with the weather in that it was warm, but it would have been nice to have experienced some stronger winds and to get an idea of how the boat can move through the water.  As the sailor of a 14 ft. dinghy I could really appreciate the power of the clipper yacht.  Everything was bigger and longer, and the amount of power that is exerted on equipment is phenomenal - and we only experienced light winds.  On the positive side the light winds gave us the time to go through different drills (evolutions) without the added difficulty of trying to stay upright and tied on.  Hopefully we all have a good grounding on what is needed and can move forward to our Level 2 courses confident of a firm foundation.
  

The next thing for me is going to be 'Crew Allocation' on the 25th April - next Saturday.  This is where I find out which boat I'll be on, who the skipper is, and who the other crew members are.  This is when the race starts as we all start to prepare for departure on the 30th August.

 

My Level 2 training then starts the following day on the 26th with an 8.00 am reporting time to the 'Sea Survival' course for the first day and then five days offshore trying to get to grips with the watch system and living on a boat with everyone else while unable to get of.

 

And YES I really am going to sail around the world!!

 

 

Preparation

Going away for eleven months is quite a big thing and I am starting to 'lose the plot' under all the multi-tasking that is having to happen to prepare for it all.  There are so many different things to think about so I thought I 'd share what is going on for me at the moment.

As I see it this preparation can be divided into different categories including moving house, training, getting fit, buying kit and finishing work.  So what's it all about and how's it going.




Our potential new home
No 6, the one in the middle

I'll start with moving house - I am down-sizing, no mean feat in itself, so that I can release some capital to pay for this adventure.  But also this house is too big for us, and especially for Tom and Rebecca to look after while I am away.  We have a buyer for this one and have a town house about 1/2 mile from here that we are looking to buy.  It's all in the solicitor's hands at the moment and hopefully we will be able to move by the end of May/beginning of June.  I want to be settled and unpacked in good time before leaving the UK at the end of August.  Though I understand from talking to the solicitor today that it might not be until the end of June that we can actually move - not good news!!

The cabin is filled with
shelves of toys
 

The fun now is to sort all our belongings and try and decide what we need.  I think that after I've lived on a boat for eleven months then a room will appear enormous and possessions superfluous to requirements - or that's what I am hoping.  It's books and toys  - and they seem to be increasing in number as I write.  Because I'm not sure what I'll be doing when I get back I don't want to throw them away, but at the same time I don't want to be storing stuff unnecessarily.  What a dilemma!  Ebay, car boot sales and charity shops for the next few months should provide the solution.



Training is the next big thing that needs to be done and this consists of four compulsory weeks on one of the Clipper boats, either 68ft or 70ft depending on what's available.



For those who don't know -
this is what a bowline looks like

Level 1 is all about crewing skills and as part of the selection process I'll need to successfully complete this week before I'm guaranteed a place on the Clipper Race.  It is reportedly a 'boot camp' and that the race itself is tame in comparison.  Everyone needs to have an understanding of what it takes to sail one of these boats and considering that up to 40% of the crew have never sailed before it is an important step.  Knots - one of which, the bowline, needs to be tied with eyes closed, behind your back, under water and upside down - not literally, but they all need to become second nature.   This week is based out of Cowes and we have the luxury of mooring up each night, or so I believe.

I'm starting L1 next week, on the 10th April, and I think that this will give me a reality check.  How am I feeling about it?  Excited to be starting the training and meeting other people who are on the race, but also wondering how I am going to cope with sea sickness and living cooped up with strangers 24/7.  Once completed I'll let you know how it went - watch this space.

Learning to live at 45 degrees

Level 2 looks at offshore racing and life on board.  It teaches us to live at a 45 degree angle for prolonged periods while racing and how to work in a watch system, race with broken sleep and to sail through the night.  I think we are offshore for most of the time so will need to think about 'mother watch' - cooking and cleaning - as well as maintenance, safety, you name it, etc.  I will be doing this week at the end of April, starting on the 26th, the day after Crew Allocation.






Level 3 involves asymmetric spinnaker training and racing techniques.  Very technical, demanding and physical but a chance to hone our sailing skills.  Everything is about sail trim, making the boat go faster and understanding the weather systems that we will be racing in.  I will be taking part in L3 from the 15th to 20th May - hopefully when the weather is a bit warmer.







Level 4 will be on the boat I will be going round the world on, with my skipper and crew, so it will be a chance to discuss team tactics and to start building those relationships that will make such a difference while racing.  It's a chance to race against the rest of the Clipper fleet while practicing starts and building that psychological edge over our rivals.


I can't wait to start training later this week, to start meeting other crew and to get to sail these awesome boats.

Getting fit is going to start in earnest now that I have finished in the schools.  I'll have time to do some sort of exercise most days and once I have been out on a boat I will have a better understanding of what I need to focus on.  I understand it's mostly upper body strength and core work that needs working on so 'gym here I come'.

Buying kit is one of those activities that could easily get out of control.  The list is endless but with a luggage allowance of 20 - 30kgs for the year I am going to have to be quite selective.  We get given our outer gear plus a number of jackets so it is the base and mid layers that need to be acquired.  There is great debate about whether or not a dry suit is advisable with pros and cons for each.  It takes ages to get them on and off, but once on it will keep me dry.  I am not planning on falling overboard but having to work on the foredeck in rough weather will mean getting quite wet and cold without one. 



The other big outlay are boots, and again there is great debate as to which are the best ones to buy.  I have gone for these nice red ones which have had good reviews and are extremely comfortable, and hopefully hard wearing.

Then there are all the extras like head torch, gloves, socks, dry bags, sleeping bag, music, camera etc. etc.

Finishing work has nearly happened with schools ending just before Easter and my private work continuing until just before I leave.  I am ending with clients here at home by the end of April in the hope that we will move soon after but will continue with work away from home for a while.

So - it is all coming together and the excitement is building.  The support I am getting from friends and family is outstanding and everyone seems 100% behind what I am doing - so thank you.  As I said earlier my first level of training starts tomorrow on the 10th and I am looking forward to getting out onto the water.  There is a high pressure system over us at the moment so the skies are clear and the winds light - not ideal and it doesn't look any better for next week.  Still, I'll be able to top up my tan.

The End of an Era

On Wednesday 1st April I packed up my box of toys for the last time as I finished working with children in four Hampshire Primary Schools, three in Farnborough and one in Basingstoke. 
It was a poignant moment as I said goodbye to the school office for the last time - sad but exciting as I can now look forward to training and preparation for my journey around the world.



I have been given some wonderful gifts, bouquets of flowers and cards signed by parents, children and teachers and have taken away some precious moments of times spent with some very special children and adults. 

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to my enjoyment of the work I have been doing and who have touched my life in their own individual way.





I have been working in schools since 2004, one of them for ten years, so it has been a big wrench to finally say goodbye to everyone.  I am hoping that we can still keep in touch via my blog and I look forward to returning next year when I am planning on talking to the children about my trip in a school assembly.  The idea is to give a talk before I go and then follow it up a year later when I will have photos and video clips to share.  Hopefully the children will have the opportunity to follow me and to plot the boat's position as I travel across the oceans and around the world.

I am still working here at home but with more 'free' time during the week I can now start concentrating on selling the house, getting fit and sorting out all the paperwork that needs to be dealt with before I go away.  The last thing I need to be thinking about is filling in my tax form as I head across the Southern Ocean to Australia.

1st Crew Briefing - Jan '15

Better late than never .........  The first crew briefing was held on the 10th January up in London, just around the corner from St Katharine's Docks.  My sailing 'buddy', Victoria, and I set off on a cold, damp and windy day to join many other crew members for the first 'mass meeting', including an inspirational talk from Sir Robin Knox-Johnson.
 
It was a chance to have a look around one of the boats as well as try on some of the kit, including foul weather gear and various jackets, find out the start date and hear about a new race sponsor.








We started by visiting 'Garmin' from the 2013-14 race.  Getting back on board brought back memories from my visit two years ago but also made me realise how basic and cramped the set up is down below.  The bunks are narrow and according to someone who sailed in the 13-14 race, "Not enough room to lie on my side when lying down".  There is certainly not much 'cupboard space' so it might be quite a challenge to find somewhere for the 20-30 kgs of kit I will be allowed to take on board.




The nav station is situated towards the back of the boat to ensure easy communication with whoever is on the helm at the time, but I can't imagine it will be a comfortable ride when the boat is being tossed about in the Southern Ocean, and as someone who gets seasick easily I don't think I will be spending much time there for the first couple of days.  Shower facilities are very basic, but as they will be a rare treat maybe it won't matter too much.

 

As I walked around the boat I had a sense of excitement, but also a little voice questioning what I am about to embark on.

 

The Crew Briefing brought it all home.  The excitement in the room was tangible with lots of crew members renewing friendships that had been made during previous training weeks.  Camaraderie was evident as everyone jostled to try on kit, talk to Clipper staff, arrange insurance etc, and for me, reality was hitting.  The enormity of what I had signed up for was starting to dawn on me as I listened to Sir Robin and other Clipper staff as they made their presentations.  Not having completed any training I didn't know anyone else and my reticence to engage with others felt comfortable;  I needed to sit back, listen and observe.  I will have four training sessions and 11 months to get to know everyone else; for me there is no hurry.

 

It was announced that the race will start from somewhere in southern UK on Sunday 30th August and the boats will head straight for Rio, with the exact start location being announced later in the year when negotiations have been completed.  This is also the case for many of the other ports in the second half of the race after leaving The Whitsundays off the eastern coast of Australia in January 2016; we have to wait to hear.

 

After a quick trip to the Boat Show, Victoria and I headed home.  The start of the trip was getting closer and I couldn't wait for the next step.  Over the next few months I need to get fit, apply for visas, start buying kit, arrange for inoculations, sell the house and buy another, finish work, as well as live life to the full.  Will there be enough time to fit it all in?

 

The next big date is Crew Allocation on the 25th April.  This is when we find out which boat we will be on, who the skipper is and who the other crew are.  Some say that this is the point the race starts as teams get their race strategies prepared, start allocating jobs to specific people and for the crew to start to bond.  I believe that it's going to be the 'soft' skills of team building, communication and managing relationships that will determine how successful a crew is.  We can all learn to sail to a reasonable standard in quite a short time but it's the variance in personalities that will be more of a challenge.

 

Training for me is going to start just after Easter with Level 1 beginning on the 10th April and Level 2, along with Sea Survival, on the 26th April.  Lets hope for good sailing weather and conditions that will start to prepare me for what lies ahead.









Thank you, Victoria, for 'holding my hand' on this day - it's great to know that you are there to support me as I embark on this epic journey.

 

Why on earth am I doing this?

'Why am I doing this' you might well ask, and it's something I will often ask myself as I get into the swing of preparing to be away from the UK for about 11 months.

I first saw one of the 70 ft Clipper yachts in St Katharine's Docks in January 2013 before it set off in the 13-14 race.  A basic racing boat with few home comforts.  My sister has a friend who raced in the 11-12 race and the reports back enticed me to go along and see one of the boats and talk to Clipper staff about the possibility of joining the race in 2015.

Roll forward a couple of months and I attended a talk by someone who had completed a circumnavigation in '11-12.  The reality of what it would involve hit and I decided that it wasn't for me.  Maybe I might do a 'leg' but then I could spend that money on lots of smaller holidays and adventures.  The idea was 'put to bed'.

During the summer of 2014 I became disillusioned with work and felt that I needed something more in my life - but what?  A summer evening was spent sitting by the river in Guildford having a drink with a friend and the conversation turned to what I could do to relieve the tediousness that work and life was becoming.  Don't get me wrong, I love the work I do with children and their families but I knew something was missing from my life - but what was it?  

I had started volunteering with Frensham Pond Sailability during the summer of 2013 and I thoroughly enjoyed helping people to get out onto the water who might otherwise not be able to do so.  I was also Class Captain for the GP14 fleet, raced regularly, and had trained to be a Dinghy Instructor.  Sailing was becoming a much bigger part of my life.  I was getting a much better work:life balance and recognized that when I was out on the water or just down at FPSC that I felt better about life and myself. Maybe I could do something around sailing.

It wasn't until late November, after a tour round Windsor Castle with my university friend, Linda, that the idea of sailing in the Clipper 15-16 race was re-born.  We were sitting having tea in a small crooked tea house in the centre of Windsor when the talk went round to the 'mad idea' of sailing round the world.  One leg wasn't going to be enough of a challenge, it had to be the whole way.

The timing seemed right.  Tom and Rebecca would be 23 and 20 respectively, my mum is still in good health, I am still reasonably fit and healthy, and I will be 60 in July so what better way to celebrate.  Also having been 'institutionalized' as a child at boarding school and then uni, I felt the need to be back among other people - though maybe being cooped up with 22 others 24/7, on a boat with no escape, is a bit extreme!

I went home that afternoon and spent the evening looking up everything I could around Clipper Ventures before submitting my application form online.  By Monday I was on my way to Cardiff for an interview and to attend an information evening.  By the end of the week I had been accepted as a Round the Worlder (RTW) and I started to let work and friends know what I was up to.

Feelings were mixed - excitement at the prospect of doing the trip, feelings of 'what am I letting myself into', anxiety around leaving the family for a year, fear around potential sailing conditions in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific.  So much jumbled in my head.  But what has always been constant is the excitement of taking on this enormous challenge. Achieving something that not many other people can say they have done.  I have flown around the world at 35,000 ft and I now want to sail around at MSL.  I want to experience the enormity and power of the planet, and I feel that can only be done if I engage with what the world has to throw at me.  I have been down one of the deepest coal mines in the UK and seen enormous steel girders buckled like paper straws as they try and hold up the tunnels against the stresses and pressures of the earth.  It is now time to see what the oceans have to offer.

I know I will be scared, exhilarated, exhausted, bored, hot, cold, hungry, seasick, and anything else you can think of.  Getting on with 22 other people is going to be a challenge in itself but hopefully my counselling skills will come in good use as I try and encourage us all to build good, healthy relationships with each other.  I can see a book coming - 'Relationships at Sea' or something along those lines.  At any one time, with 22 people on a boat, 231 separate relationships will need to be managed - quite a challenge when our living conditions will be a boat sailing along at a 45 degree angle and everyone wet and cold.

40,000 miles around the world in the race of a lifetime

I am no Jules Verne but this is an account of my adventure as I travel 40,000 miles around the world as a participant in the Clipper 15-16 Round the World Race.  This entry is going to be very factual so that everyone can get up to date with what I am about to do and can follow my progress as I circumnavigate the world.  Feel free to ignore it and move onto the experiential part of the blog – no one’s watching.

In the words of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, ’The Clipper Race has changed immeasurably but its core values remain.  It is still a truly unique yacht race, open to anyone no matter how experienced or inexperienced, no matter how old, no matter what background.  The beauty of the ocean is that it doesn’t care if you are a seasoned ocean racer or a nurse on your first crossing; it still serves up the same challenges at the same intensity.  People take on the Clipper Race because they have a desire that sets them apart.  They want to live life to the full.

The easy choices in life often offer no pleasure; it is the hard and difficult challenges that bring the satisfaction of real achievement. I remember my first circumnavigation, the challenges I faced in 1968 to raise the money I needed to get my campaign up and running.  The sacrifices I had to make, that my family had to make.  My dream was always to make the globe’s oceans more accessible and to give people the opportunity to do what I had done, with far less of a sacrifice but with the same weather – gales, the Doldrums, trade winds, freezing cold and blistering heat.  You will be tested, pushed, challenged and ultimately inspired.

My challenge to you is simple – dare to dream – because something as huge as this starts with just that.  If you follow that dream, who knows where you will end up.  I promise you one thing, you will enjoy the journey.’

What is the Clipper 15-16 race all about you might well ask?  This is a bi-annual race that was first launched back in 1996, this one being the tenth.  The boats are a matched fleet of 70 ft ocean going vessels that have been specially designed to circumnavigate the world with an amateur crew.  The course takes the boats more than 40,000 nautical miles right around the world, from west to east, and crew can either sign up for the complete circumnavigation or for one or more of the eight individual legs (see map below).  This is a serious race and points are scored in a similar way to F1; 12 points for first, 11 for second, etc, with extra points for reaching a gate first, but also points deducted for, for example, rule infringements and equipment damage. 

The skipper is a professional sailor and is responsible for guiding his/her amateur crew through the vagaries of the weather and sea states, and safely back to England.  Ages vary from 18 to 70+ years with a mix of men and women from all walks of life.  Amazingly, approximately 40% of those who sign up have never sailed before.  Now that needs courage!!  If you want to find out more please follow the following links:

www.clipperroundtheworld.com – features a race tracker, with latest positions, news, videos and diaries from the boats.

facebook: /clipperroundtheworld - keep posted with the latest news, positions and competitions

twitter:  @clipperrace – keep posted with the latest news, positions and competitions

YouTube:  /clipperrtw – watch the latest video footage from the boats and see what life is like onboard

The Race Course

As of yet not all the ports have been confirmed and neither the dates of departure for each race.  These will be distributed once I know so if anyone fancies a trip somewhere exotic they will have as much time as possible to book flights etc.  Though be warned, sometimes delays mean that arrival times in ports are much later than expected.

Leg 1 – UK to Brazil, Rio de Janeiro 

30^th August – Sept/Oct 2015

Race 1 - Departing from Southern UK on the 30^th August 2015.  The exact location has yet to be announced but I will let everyone know where it will be as it would be great to see as many people as possible as I start the race.

5,200 miles

26 – 30 days

Conditions will be very varied starting with some very strong tides and currents in the Channel.  We then move into the Trade winds and Doldrums where we will experience wind holes and squalls.  Big decision, do we go around the Canaries, east or west, or straight through the middle?  Then it’s across the Equator and into Rio de Janeiro.

Leg 2 – Rio de Janeiro to South Africa, Cape Town

7^th October – late October 2015

Race 2 – Leaving on the 7^th October for Cape Town, South Africa.

3,400 miles

15 – 18 days

This will be a mad dash across the Southern Atlantic using the Trade Winds where the boats will be surfing at 30 knots and beyond.  It is a hard race and care will need to be taken to preserve equipment.  This is where the Albatross will be first seen (not to be shot!), whales are a common sight and the Southern Cross will be above our heads.

Leg 3 – Cape Town to SW Australia, Albany

31^st October – late November 2015

Race 3 – This is the ‘Southern Ocean Sleigh Ride’ as the boats cross an ocean with 80-foot high waves at close to 30 knots with nothing for thousands of miles except the boat, the crew and me.

4,750 miles

22 – 26 days

After passing the Cape of Good Hope the route will take us south across the Indian Ocean, and into the Roaring Forties and the Southern Ocean which provides some of the most extreme sailing in the world.  Strong winds, huge waves, driving rain, thick cloud cover and some very cold temperatures as winds blow up from the ice of Antarctica.  Safety and equipment preservation will be the key to doing well in this race.  We then sail south of Cape Leewin off the southwest tip of Australia and into Albany, Western Australia, where a wonderful Aussie welcome awaits our arrival.

Leg 4 – Albany to Whitsundays, Australia – this leg is comprised of three separate races

1^st December 2015 – January 2016

Race 4 – Albany to Sydney leaving Albany on 1^st December 2015.

2100 miles

10 – 13 days

Back into the Southern Ocean where conditions will be hard with huge swells, depressions and westerlies, and although a southern hemisphere spring the temperatures will be cold.  The route takes us across the Great Australian Bight where there are lots of challenging wind holes, to the south of Tasmania, across the Bass Strait and north into Sydney.

We will have approximately two weeks in Sydney during which time the boats will be lifted from the water for antifouling.  We will be doing it ourselves but have been promised all the equipment and gear – Thanks!  I have an aunt and cousins who live up in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and I am hoping for a chance to visit them.  Christmas is in Sydney but leaving for Tasmania on Boxing Day.

Race 5 – Sydney-Hobart departing 26^th December 2015

628 miles

3 – 4 days

This iconic race will be one of the

highlights of the trip as we leave Sydney 

Harbour on Boxing Day and head south for

Hobart where we spend New Year.  

Before crossing the Bass Strait, again, it 

is going to be important that we get a 

good start with clean air as we come out of

Sydney Heads.

Race 6 – Hobart – Whitsundays, leaving Hobart on 2^nd January 2016 and arriving in The Whitsundays on around 12-13^th January.

1600 miles

8 – 11 days

We cross the Bass Strait for the third time as we head north to the Whitsundays on the east coast of Queensland.  Conditions will still be tough as we get to ride the ocean swells so popular with the surfers on the east coast.  But, a Great Barrier Reef paradise will be waiting for us at the other end so hopefully it will all be worth it.

Leg 5 – Whitsundays to Quingdao, China – this long leg is comprised of 2 races which take us from south to north as we cross the equator, experience the tropics of the Indonesian islands, the South China Sea and finally the welcome in the Olympic city of Quingdao.

January – February 2016

Race 7 – Whitsundays – SE Asia.  The port in SE Asia has yet to be confirmed but I will let you know once I find out.

4,500 miles

28 – 32 days

This race will start with a tough beat north as we head towards the islands of Indonesia passing Papua New Guinea and Borneo.  The tropical temperatures will be high as we contend with the Doldrums and then the north east monsoons of the South China Sea.

Race 8 – SE Asia – Quingdao, China. 

1800 miles

12 – 16 days

This will be a race with strong upwind conditions and temperatures getting colder, with snow and ice, as we head towards Quingdao.  The welcome in Quingdao is reportedly one of the best so something to look forward to after a long hard slog north.

Leg 6 – Quingdao to West Coast USA (any one of three locations)

February – April 2016

Race 9 - A long race across the northern Pacific that is going to test everything and everyone. 

5700 miles

26 – 30 days

“After more than a month at sea, crossing the International Date Line and winds gusting above 50 knots, the American coastline may be the sweetest sight you have ever seen.”

Leg 7 – West Coast USA to Panama to East Coast USA (any one of five locations)

April – May 2016

Race 10 – West Coast – Panama

3300 miles

21 – 25 days

Back south to warmer climes with important tactical decisions – offshore or stay inshore.  The winds get fluky the closer to land you sail, but further offshore the currents can’t help but a more consistent wind can.  Decisions!

Panama Canal Transit – one of the engineering wonders of

the world

45 miles

12 hours

Race 11 – Panama – East Coast (any one of five locations)

2100 miles (approx)

13 – 15 days

Sailing north through the Caribbean, unfortunately 

missing the GP14 Worlds in Barbados in March, and out

into the Atlantic.  Heat, trade winds, squalls,

thunderstorms, all out to challenge as we head towards

 the East Coast USA.

Leg 8 – East Coast USA to Derry/Londonderry to Europe to Southern UK

June – July 2016

Race 12 – East USA – Derry/Londonderry

2300 miles

13 – 17 days

The last ocean crossing with one waypoint to keep us well south of any risk of ice, and across the Flemish Cap of ‘The Perfect Storm’ fame.

Race 13 – Derry/Londonderry – Europe (port not confirmed)

800 miles

4 – 5 days

Round the north of Scotland this race will be heavily influenced by the depressions that cross the Atlantic much further north in the summer – it will be testing, either because of strong winds or because the winds are light and variable.  We will be frustratingly close to home but with still one race to sail.

Race 14 – Europe – Southern UK

250 miles

2 days

The last ‘blast’ as we take the final race back to the UK.  The overall winner will be confirmed and after final farewells to crew members that have become firm friends it will be back to reality as we all try and pick up the pieces that were left behind 11 months ago.  And it will be a challenge!