A Fastnet Diary - Part 4 - Race Entry

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Created on Monday, 28 January 2013 04:34

Written by Fastnet Skipper Glenn Smallcombe

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We're following Quantum Sailing’s Fastnet Race 2013 campaign – this diary is our ‘soup to nuts’ account of what’s involved in preparing for, and participating in, one of the world’s most challenging offshore races. We hope that this will be useful to others considering doing something similar in the future.

Part 4: January 2013: Race entry
In our last diary entry we introduced the crew. You’ll hear more from them as we go through the training programme and prep races. In this, our fourth entry, we get a bit more technical. The date for entering the race has come upon us very quickly and has brought a multitude of questions that need answering.

A Fastnet Diary - Part 2

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Created on Wednesday, 22 August 2012 07:45

Written by Glenn Smallcombe

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Following Quantum Sailing's Fastnet Race 2013 campaign – this diary is our 'soup to nuts' account of what's involved in preparing for and participating in one of the world's most challenging offshore races. We hope that this will be useful to others considering doing something similar in the future.

 

August 2012: 12th Months to go and counting down

As we approach Cowes Week 2012, I'm reminded that this time next year we will be making our final preparations for the Fastnet race. The race traditionally starts on the Sunday at the end of Cowes Week, next year it will be 11th August, and we intend to be there in the race fleet.

A year might seem like a long time but there is a lot to do and both yacht and crew need to be ready for an arduous event like the Fastnet. We need to meet stringent requirement for the safety equipment on the yacht and for levels of training of the crew. So, since our first diary entry, we have been getting to grips with what we need to do just to get to the start line.

We now have a complete crew signed up. Much of the impetus for entering the race came from the Quantum Sailing Network (see www.quantumsailing.co.uk/network.html), so it is not suprising that the bulk of the crew come from that group too. Along with myself as the Skipper, we have Dave, Paul, Howard, Andy, Chris and Steve.

Like some well know Formula 1 teams, this is very much and Oxfordshire based racing outfit. The whole team lives within a radius of less than 10 miles of one another. Apart from the skipper, none are professional sailors but all are keen to get out on the water whenever possible.

A Fastnet Diary - Part 3

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Created on Friday, 16 November 2012 04:16

Written by Fastnet Skipper Glenn Smallcombe

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We are following Quantum Sailing's Fastnet Race 2013 campaign – this diary is our 'soup to nuts' account of what's involved in preparing for and participating in one of the world's most challenging offshore races. We hope that this will be useful to others considering doing something similar in the future.

Part 3 - October 2012: Introducing the Crew
As this is the third of our diary entries, we thought that it was high time to introduce the crew that will be heading off towards the Fastnet rock next year. We'll be sailing with six plus the skipper, so it will be cosy onboard Quantum Leap, our Jeanneau Sunfast 37. We asked the guys (sorry but its an all male crew) about their background, their sailing experience and why on earth they would want to put themselves through the discomfort of a Fastnet race – and pay for the privilege!!

A Fastnet Diary - Part 1

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Created on Thursday, 26 January 2012 07:09

Written by Glenn Smallcombe

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This week we start following Quantum Sailing's Fastnet Race 2013 campaign – their 'soup to nuts' account of what's involved in preparing for and participating in one of the world's most challenging offshore races. Glenn Smallcombe writes:

Jan 2012: First thoughts – From random idea to race entry

The idea of a Quantum Sailing entry in the Fastnet Race was planted some time ago but I think that it really started to take hold last August. This was when a couple of us were out on Quantum Leap, sailing just off Cowes, watching the start of the 2011 race.

There was a real buzz around. This had been evident in the marina, as we'd watched crews preparing their boats, and then saying their goodbyes to loved ones. On the water, close to the start line, you could almost feel the excitement. Small cruisers to massive racing machines, professional and amateur crews alike, all were readying themselves for the off, on one of sailing's great adventures.

We followed the fleet down the western Solent, and felt a real sense of disappointment when it was time for us to turn for home, watching the race boats quickly disappearing off into the distance.

The Fastnet is widely regarded as one of the most challenging events on the offshore racing calendar. Starting from Cowes, the fleet sails out of the Solent and past the Needles before heading west along the South Coast. With prevailing south-westerly winds, this leg is often a long hard beat. After rounding Lands End, the fleet heads off across the Celtic sea towards the Fastnet rock, just a few tantalising miles off the coast of South West Ireland. On this stretch everyone is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic, with no land between them and America to limit the build up of the waves! Here the call of the Guiness is at its most tempting, nevertheless the fleet rounds the rock and start heading south again. Next, its down to the Scilly Isles to pass another famous landmark: Bishop rock, the most south westerly spot in the UK. From there it's often a downwind run to the finish line at Plymouth.