Route du Rhum - 31st October

gotchiguy · 25 October 2010, 20:05

Falling just at the end of half term, it looks like we should just be able to make it, Into the Red going into the water tomorrow, although the french strikes mean it goes in practically fuel-less

A quick run over to Jersey tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday for lunch should sort that. We will plan to be on the water for most of Sunday, and indeed this week, although we're back in the UK, Friday and Saturday.

We went for a walk round the boats this afternoon in St. Malo, there are hundreds of really cutting edge racers, monohulls and multis. It should be a fantastic event! They're setting off on Sunday from here, and heading directly to Goudaloupe, some single handers, but most with crews. It should be a massive event, everyone connected with the sea seems fairly "excited" by it, and going by photos of four years ago, the start will be a frenzy of boats! There are zones of restricted activity, and if anyone shows any interest I'll happily put a summary on here, as finding the information is a little tricky.

More info here:http://www.routedurhum-labanqueposta...01p01_home.php ....that should be the english version I think!

Cap Breizh have already shown an interest in going, and it could be a good link up for Ribnet and them (with us in the middle obviously!)

Erin · 25 October 2010, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

A quick run over to Jersey tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday for lunch should sort that.

Think you should have done that today, looked pretty good out there earlier. Not sure it'll be as nice tomorrow. Bit of rain and a good F5 blowing.

Give us a shout if you make it tho'. Always up for a bit of lunch

gotchiguy · 25 October 2010, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Give us a shout if you make it tho'. Always up for a bit of lunch

Will do

Why not pop La Frette into the water and come over to see the race?

Anchorhandler · 25 October 2010, 22:02

Doh!! do you think they would postpone the start until the trailer is ready for the ex-Jigsaw?....only 6 weeks or so?

.....

She is still high and dry in our barn at the mo' with no means to move her...

GJ0KYZ · 25 October 2010, 23:04

I was really p*ssed off with the inaccurate wx forecast yesterday evening as I planned one last dash to MStM today. I put my boat in the marina in the morning but with the increasing wind and the forecast of 4-5 with 4ft swell and F7 in the north by Tuesday I put it back on the mooring later on. But today was perfect and where was I? Stuck in a bloody office.

Gotchiguy: If you make it to Jersey this week then get someone to post on the forum and we can all meet up. Good luck with the crossing although the wx is set to get a little worse this end.

Channel Ribs · 26 October 2010, 16:28

Total thread hijack, sorry. But... Is there any interest in a winter Jersey land-locked meet?

Pablo · 26 October 2010, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

Doh!! do you think they would postpone the start until the trailer is ready for the ex-Jigsaw?....only 6 weeks or so?

.....

She is still high and dry in our barn at the mo' with no means to move her...

I can loan you a trailer if that is the problem

gotchiguy · 26 October 2010, 17:39

Well, we're here.....Fuel closed....abysmal crossing.....no clothes or anything... or place to stay.....some would call us stupid, but I just think we've been intrepid!

I think the weather is too poor, and with darkness closing in, were going to have to stay over and go in the morning. Slightly reckless to have come over in the first place, but it was nice and calm right up to the south east minquiers cardinal, however we pressed on and all to quickly we didn't really have enough fuel, only enough to keep going. Nearly had to call on the emergency 20 litres

Erin · 26 October 2010, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

some would call us stupid

Yep

Erin · 26 October 2010, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

Total thread hijack, sorry. But... Is there any interest in a winter Jersey land-locked meet?

Don't see why not. When you coming down?

GJ0KYZ · 26 October 2010, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Well, we're here.....Fuel closed....abysmal crossing.....no clothes or anything... or place to stay.....some would call us stupid, but I just think we've been intrepid!

How long are you in the island for and where are you staying? Maybe we could meet up before you return to France.

GJ0KYZ · 26 October 2010, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

Total thread hijack, sorry. But... Is there any interest in a winter Jersey land-locked meet?

Do you mean an evening in a pub talking b*llocks? If you do, then I'm well up for that.

martini · 26 October 2010, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Do you mean an evening in a pub talking b*llocks? If you do, then I'm well up for that.

Me too

martini · 26 October 2010, 23:49

Looks like quite a few of us will be here this friday or saturday then?

Channel Ribs · 27 October 2010, 08:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

Looks like quite a few of us will be here this friday or saturday then?

Looks like I may well be delivering some AIS gear on Friday or Saturday too.

martini · 27 October 2010, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

Looks like I may well be delivering some AIS gear on Friday or Saturday too.

gotchiguy · 27 October 2010, 19:36

Well, we did manage to pop up to Jersey yesterday. Conditions were fair till half way past Minquiers, but still managed ~15-20knts. Last 5nm into St. Helier were really bad, reduced to 10knts crawl, and getting rather wet. It was unfortunate that the weather only decided to turn inclement when we had passed the point of no return fuel wise - although we set out with a 60nm range at 30knts, doing 20 the whole time had reduced this a fair bit

(we always had a spare 20litres on deck for emergencies though

. Having managed to find a bed to sleep in and some clothes to wear (We expected to make it an afternoon trip

), and having spent a good evening with Keith last night were he explained in detail how lunatic he thought we were

, we set back out this morning in probably even worse weather, but with the forecast saying that the wind should drop from a 6 to a 4 by mid afternoon

.

It wasn't a particularly "fun" trip, for the first 5nm the waves were huge, and we remained at displacement speed all the way past the Minquiers, all in all it took ~3 and a half hours. (34nm, a trip weve done in an hour before

). It was fairly monotonous, the only excitement being when waves actually broke over the tubes

- due to our speed - but at no point did I ever feel unsafe

, testament to the design of the Fletchers all those years ago

Erin · 27 October 2010, 19:51

Glad you got back ok. I did wonder whether you'd leave it 'til this afternoon when the wind was meant to drop, though by the looks of things it didn't actually drop 'til about an hour or two ago.

Did I really imply you were lunatics

(maybe that's just cos I'm a coward). Lets hope it was all worth the effort and the Route du Rhum proves to be a good event. Make sure you post some photos, and go easy on the throttle - it must work out quite expensive per litre having to factor in a 70 mile trip, an overnight stay and some beers

gotchiguy · 27 October 2010, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

it must work out quite expensive per litre having to factor in a 70 mile trip, an overnight stay and some beers

Not my department

.....

Channel Ribs · 28 October 2010, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Do you mean an evening in a pub talking b*llocks? If you do, then I'm well up for that.

I am flying into Jersey on Friday morning, at the moment I am flying back out that afternoon but would like an excuse for a half of shandy with an umbrella in it and stick around 'til Saturday.