Phil Stubbs
It is another typical June day in the St George’s Channel between Land’s End and Ireland. The sky is coming down to meet the sea in a seamless join of grey on grey.
It has been raining for five hours, a special kind of rain that is fine but persistent, working its way through layers of clothing, hair and skin to make damn sure you have a total understanding of the word saturated.
Visibility is poor and outside the grey there is really not a lot to see. But I know that somewhere in the gloom there are 112 total nutters trying to race their way around Britain and Ireland and two of them are on my boat [an Oyster Lightwave 395] The Shed, grinning like idiots, while we surf down the waves.
The start yesterday already feels like a million years ago. Phil [Stubbs] and I have had less than an hour sleep each since the start gun went at 1215 yesterday. Every second has been important. We have worked the Shed non-stop to try and achieve a winning position.
The days leading up to the start of the race have been fantastic. There was a great atmosphere between the race competitors, light-hearted banter, swapping of tools, help and advice and a party atmosphere not all that conducive to getting some much needed pre-race sleep.
I have really enjoyed getting to know my fellow competitors, some of whom I met during the OSTAR, some I have raced with on the Solent and some new faces altogether.
The Shed is racing in a class of 11 boats which looks like it could be the most competitive of the race. Several boats have jostled against each other before with similar ratings and competitive crews who race to win.
We have understood from the start that if we want to get a result for The Shed we must race from the word go, at all times concentrating on the job in hand and pushing as hard as we can.
So we have been true to our word. We crossed the start line in 5th position, sailing high to the committee boat and blocking out the band of last minute chancers who thought they could muscle their way onto the track.
Out to the Eddystone and we were working The Shed with both brains and muscle. Every time the boat felt different we changed the settings, adjusting mast and sails for the new conditions and maintaining a balance between power and speed.
The work paid off through a long night and by the time we arrived at the Scilly Isles we were just leading a pack of boats from our class, all within a mile of each other despite having been racing for 15hrs. This is going to be a close race.
At the Scillies it was time to hoist the spinnaker and so out came our biggest one, the A4, and at this point we split from the fleet.
The wind is expected to back through this afternoon and to then shift to the west in the evening.
Our plan appears to differ from the rest of our pack as we went hooning off downwind towards Ireland as fast as we could. The rest of the spinnakers disappeared into the murk leaving us alone to play in the surf.
It has been a bit of a trial by fire for Phil. We put up the big kite and then the wind increased to 25 knots but I was having fun surfing the waves, pulling at 12 and 13 knots regularly and grinning widely. There would be no persuading me to take it down.
When I handed to helm to Phil I gave him a loaded-up Shed and stayed on deck ready to assist should he need.
After a while tiredness crept in and I needed to close my eyes so I pulled up my collar and sat on the cockpit floor in the rain. Phil had the instruction to wake me by shouting ‘sheet’ or ‘guy’ so I could spring into action from the floor and know immediately which line to release to save us from our impending doom.
The boat settled down and so I put my head down to writing this blog at the computer.
Three lines down the page and I am being thrown across the cabin, just catching a mouse and a keyboard and knocking the contents of a coffee jar on the floor.
We had been overpowered by a wave and the spinnaker and the boat had broached and was patiently lying on its side, sails flapping, waiting for me to come on deck and let some ropes go.
All sorted, back upright and sailing today. I am into the second paragraph and again airborne.
This time as I came up through the hatch I said “Do you want me to drive for a bit?” To which the answer was a definite “yes” and I had to take over while we were still going sideways and flat.
Eventually even I had to concede we had too much sail up, so down came the big kite; up went the little one and we are only surfing at 10 knots now, but life seems to be a lot calmer.
The finish line [of the first leg to Crosshaven] is 60 miles away, and I have no idea where the rest of the fleet are. All we can do is push on. When the wind eases the A4 will go back up and neither of us will sleep now until we are across the line.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror just now. I am a drowned rat; my fingers are so wrinkled from the rain they feel like they belong to someone else. I am drenched through but the things that stands out are my eyes. All the lines have gone, they are bright and my face looks stress free.
It has been a mission getting everything in place to compete in this race, but now we are here I would rather be nowhere else. I may be soaked, sore, hungry and tired, but no face cream could transform me like this.
It is the competition, the love of sailing, travelling and adventures, using every resource available, brain, brawn, technology and some old fashioned seamanship, to get to that finish line ahead of the pack.
Flags (Photo by Colin Merry)
Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race Fleet Preparing To Head Out (Photo by Colin Merry)
Once again a multitude of of yachts are gathering in Plymouth prior to the start of the ”Round Britain and Ireland ”race. Taking place every four years this race has always attracted a large following, and this year is no exception. With over sixty entrants this is a new record. The race starts and finishes at Plymouth, and stops at Kinsale (Ireland), Barra,(Scotland), Lerwick(Shetland isles) Lowestoft,(England) are compulsory.
It’s a very tough race and the weather can and often does throw everything at the participants. The stops are a welcome break where boats and bodies can be repaired!
Taika (Photo by Colin Merry)
Chris Tibbs Preparing (Photo by Colin Merry)
Chris Tibbs on his newly acquired J105 ‘Taika’ should have an advantage as he is a meteorologist and author of the RYAWeather handbook. In between tackling the many last minute jobs he said that he and co-skipper Kim Vasey do not have a game plan that is solid but will get out there and see what the weather throws up! I would think that they weren’t telling me everything with the weather knowledge they have on board!
Crew of Kindness (Photo by Colin Merry)
Looking around at the gathered yachts it was a scene of quiet but fairly intense activity as last minute jobs both small and large were being undertaken. It was a contrast to see the two guys on ‘Kindness’ an Oyster 47′ seemingly with everything under control chilling out. Nick Booth and Johnathon Shingleton are doing the race in order to raise funds for Prostate cancer UK. An interesting story on why the boat is named ‘Kindness’. In 2002 John was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was diagnosed and treated by a doctor called Dr Hugh Kindness! Hence the name of the boat. John and Nick did the ARC in 2005 and have been sailing together since. They are taking donations for this very worth while cause through justgiving.com/kindnessroundbritain
(Photo by Colin Merry)
Final Preparations (Photo by Colin Merry)
Starting this Sunday 6th June the race can be followed as it unfolds as every boat is now required to have a tracker. The start line is within Plymouth sound and the midday starting gun will be fired from HMS Iron Duke.
You Can Track The Fleet’s Progress HERE
Flags (Photo by Colin Merry)
Cornwall Playing For Success Finishing Previous Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race (Photo by Jason Phillips)
This year’s Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race is going to be a real family affair as four father and son teams have signed up to take part in the epic adventure which happens every 4 years.
The number of entrants for this year’s race is the biggest for over twenty years with a line-up of 57 boats including six multihulls. The entry list will be closed at 60 or the boats will not fit into some of the harbours which are a feature of this classic event. The race starts in just over three months on June 6th from Plymouth Sound
There are prizes for all classes as well as a special one, the Hasler Trophy, for the first family crew to reach Plymouth on corrected time. The father and son teams are:
William and Ned Mumford who will be sailing Flair 11, an MG 335. William is a regular contender in the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland, having taken part three times. He is the MD of Plymouth motor dealership Mumfords. Ned is a student who has been watching his father sail away since he was very small.
Civil airline pilots, mountaineers and sport sailors, Tony and Sam White will be sailing Comedy of Errors, a HOD 35.
Summerbird, a Warrior 40, will be sailed by David and Sebastian Southwood. David is a retired City Chairman and Race Director of OSTAR 2009 and his son Sebastian a deep sea diver turned construction manager.
Suroma, a Starlight 35, will be sailed by Bill and Robin Graham. Bill is a retired jumbo jet captain, and Robin a man of many talents: pharmacologist, lawyer, and now a civil airline pilot.
“The Hasler Trophy will provide an interesting race within a race,” said Peter Taylor, race director of Shetland Round Britain and Ireland 2010. “It will see these four father and son teams racing against each other and of course only one boat can win. Already, excitement is mounting in many boatyards all over the UK as keen two-handers prepare their boats. A few have already launched and two have completed their qualifying cruises since Christmas.”
Douglas Irvine, business development manager for Shetland Islands Council, commented: “We are thrilled that there are four father and son teams taking part in this year’s race. With their own trophy to race for we should be guaranteed an exhilarating event all round. “
“Lerwick is our largest and most popular yachting port, surrounded by shops and restaurants. We will ensure every sailor receives a warm welcome as they berth. It is a tough race and I am sure they will welcome the break as they reach the half way point.”
Pete Goss and Paul Larsen (Photo by Michael Crawford-Hick)
The entry deadline has now passed for those wishing to compete in the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland 2010. Fifty skippers have signed up for what has become known as one of the toughest maritime races – the largest fleet for many years.
The most senior competitor is Nico Budel, of the Netherlands. Nico is sailing a brand new forty footer named sec.HAYAI, the very latest in Class 40 technology.
At the other end of the scale, 17 year old Ned Mumford is the youngest competitor to take part. His extensive sailing background has allowed him special entry into the race. Ned is racing with his father, William, who has taken part in the race several times before.
The race has the support of many sailing greats including: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston; Steve Fosset and Pete Goss MBE. It is a truly global event with competitors taking part this year from Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Norway and Belgium.
Race regulars, Jerry Freeman and Mary Falk will be joining forces to sail together in Mary’s sloop Q11 in a bid to raise money for the Institute of Cancer Research. Both Jerry and Mary are no strangers to the Round Britain & Ireland Race having taken part an astounding five times before. Mary, a cancer survivor, has raised £85,000 for the Institute of Cancer Research over the last twenty years.
A number of local sailors are taking part including father and son team David and Sebastian Southwood. David was the race director of OSTAR 2009 and is now looking forward to seeing an oceanic race from a more hands-on basis!
Alex Bennett and Malcolm Dickinson, both from Devon will also be taking part in their boat, Fujifilm, a class forty.
This is the second race to be sponsored by Shetland Islands Council, an ideal sponsor due to its maritime links and history, as well as its 35 marinas. As one of the four compulsory stops, Lerwick will also be providing the sailors with a warm Shetland welcome.
The race will depart from Plymouth on 6th June 2010 and see the competitors sail 2000 nautical miles around the UK coastline. The race has been hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club every four years since 1966.
Douglas Irvine, business development manager for Shetland Islands Council, commented: “We are thrilled that fifty skippers will be competing in this year’s race. This is the maximum number of boats allowed, demonstrating that this one of the most popular races yet. This is certainly testament to the race itself which has been running for more than 40 years.
“Lerwick is our largest and most popular yachting port, surrounded by shops and restaurants. We will ensure every sailor receives a warm welcome as they berth. It is a tough race and I am sure they will welcome the break as they reach the half way point.”
Peter Taylor, race director of Shetland Round Britain & Ireland 2010, added: “We are delighted to welcome back some well known faces but it is also important to remember what this race is really about – the office workers, farmers, doctors, builders and shopkeepers who, once or twice in a lifetime, throw caution to the wind and compete in this race for the thrill that comes with it. With so many lined up for 2010 it is sure to be a race to remember.”
Lowres In The 2009 Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race
The closing date for entries for next year’s Shetland Round Britain & Ireland race is just one month away (January 31st). With a maximum of 50 boats allowed and 44 competitors already booked in spaces are limited.
The Shetland Round Britain & Ireland race has the support of many sailing greats including: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston; Steve Fosset and Pete Goss MBE. It is a truly global event with competitors taking part in 2010 deriving from Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Belgium.
Many well known sailors have already signed up, including the winner of the OSTAR 2009 (Original Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race), Jankees Lampe. Jankees broke the record for a 40ft vessel when he completed the trans-Atlantic race earlier this year, finishing in just 17 days, 17 hours and 40 minutes. He will certainly be the one to watch in next year’s race and will be competing in his boat Roaring Again. The forty footer is strong and fast and ideally suited to the rigorous conditions north of Scotland.
Race regulars, Jerry Freeman and Mary Falk will be joining forces to sail together in Mary’s sloop Q11. Jerry has already sailed the Q11 to America in this summer’s OSTAR. Both Jerry and Mary are no strangers to the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race having taken part an astounding five times before.
Another sailor whose love for the race has bought him back to compete after nearly 30 years, is Finnish sailor David Von Flittner. This time David will be sailing with his son Nicholas in their 50ft trimaran, Rauma Repola.
Shetland Islands Council, who announced its sponsorship of the event in June, is now gearing up to promote the race and welcome the crews to Lerwick, one of the four compulsory stops during the race. Shetland is the ideal sponsor of the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland 2010 due to its maritime links and history, as well as its 35 marinas.
The race will depart from Plymouth on 6th June 2010 and see the competitors sail 2000 nautical miles around the UK coastline. The race has been hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club every four years since 1966.
Douglas Irvine, Business Development Manager for Shetland Islands Council, commented: “We are thrilled to have seen the places snapped up so quickly. We are still a month to the deadline and only six remain. This is certainly testament to the race itself which has been running for more than 40 years. This is one of the reasons we wanted to play a part in the race once again. We will now look forward to the race start and inviting the sailors to a warm Shetland welcome when they arrive in Lerwick.”
“The trials and tests of this four yearly adventure are so addictive that old friends return again and again,” adds Peter Taylor, Race Director of Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race 2010. “And we are more than pleased to welcome them back to Plymouth. Not only are we delighted to see Jankees Lampe, Mary Falk and Jerry Freeman, it will also be good to see Desmond Hampton, veteran of three previous races and now taking part with his long-time sailing partner Adrian Biggs. Both men are into their sixties and their experience and boat, a water ballasted 40 footer, are sure to hold them in good stead.”
For further information about the Round Britain & Ireland 2010 race and those taking part please visit www.rwyc.org. For further information about the race sponsor, Shetland Islands Council, please visit www.shetlandmarinas.com.
Round Britian and Ireland 2006 Start (Photo by Robin Price)
A high number of racing enthusiasts, competitors, and supporters arrived at the Royal Western Yacht Club in Plymouth yesterday afternoon (23rd September), to celebrate the launch of the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland 2010 race.
Veteran sailor Mervyn Wheatley, who competed in the OSTAR 2009 earlier this year, was guest speaker at the event and beguiled the audience with his extraordinary tales of the race. As the 2010 race will be Mervyn’s sixth, there seemed no better candidate for this role!
Still four months from the entry deadline (31st January 2010), 26 teams have already signed up for the two-handed race, including the winner of the OSTAR 2009, Jankees Lampe. Jankees broke the record for a 40ft vessel when he completed the trans-Atlantic race earlier this year in just 17 days, 17 hours and 40 minutes; making him the one to watch in next year’s Shetland Round Britain & Ireland. The race is limited to 50 boats so it is advised that those interested in taking part contact the RWYC soon to avoid disappointment.
The Shetland Round Britain & Ireland race has the support of many sailing greats; including Pete Goss MBE. Supporters and 2010 competitors who attended the launch event included Mary Falk, Jerry Freeman and David Southwood (previously race director of OSTAR 2009).
Shetland Islands Council announced its sponsorship of the race in June and took a leading role in organising the launch. Sandy Cluness, Convener of the SIC, spoke at the event detailing why the council undertook the race sponsorship and the welcome it will show the competitors when they reach Lerwick.
Lerwick, one of the largest marinas in Shetland, is one of the four compulsory stops during the race. This marina, and 34 others, makes Shetland the ideal sponsor of the race; especially when you also take into consideration its maritime links and history.
Douglas Irvine, business development manager for Shetland Islands Council, commented: “We are really pleased with the success of the race launch and the support we have received from all involved. This is a fantastic race and we are proud to be a part of it. We have a number of beautiful marinas across the Shetland Islands and Lerwick is one of our most popular. The crews are guaranteed a real Shetland welcome when they arrive!”
The race will depart from Plymouth on 6th June 2010 and see the competitors sail 2000 nautical miles around the UK coastline. The race has been hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club every four years since 1966.
For further information about the Round Britain & Ireland 2010 race and those taking part, please visit www.shetlandmarinas.com or http://www.rwyc.org/oceanic/RBI10/rbi10viewev.asp?id=270
This is Shetland Islands Council’s second time sponsoring the RB&I, having first sponsored the race in 2006.
Shetland is one of the best kept maritime secrets and provides a beautiful setting to sail and explore one of nature’s most beautiful coastlines. The stunning Shetland coastline stretches for 900 miles and boasts 35 marinas and berthing places.
Instigated by Blondie Hasler, the Royal Western Yacht Club has hosted the Round Britain and Ireland race every four years since 1966. The course, about 2000 nautical miles, is split into five legs. These are separated by compulsory stops of 48 hours each at Kinsale in Ireland, Castle Bay, Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Lerwick in Shetland, and Lowestoft on the East Coast.
Peter Taylor, race director of Shetland Round Britain & Ireland 2010, added: “As well as those already signed up I am receiving interest from a number of other parties looking to take part in the race. We are getting a good mix of old and new competitors and it was great to see a number of these here at the launch. This race has a long history at RWYC and we are thrilled to have the support of Shetland Islands Council, allowing us to promote the race and what is stands for. It is a tough sail and the competitors will face some mighty conditions, it really is a great challenge.”
The race will depart from Plymouth on 6th June 2010 and see the competitors sail 2000 nautical miles around the UK coastline. The race has been hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club every four years since 1966.
