Old news - (10/03/2009)

This sections contains all older messages sent from the boat during the OSTAR 2005 and the BluCube 1000 Solo.

For news about the OSTAR 2009, please see News/Nieuws

Bart



Camaret 6 - (10/06/2008)

so slow as the first days were, so fast has today been.
Keeping to the west payed off, as the wind did veer to the northwest. And I could still lay the course without loosing too much speed. Indeed, the last hours went very quickly, as we also just made the tide. I have just passed Chaussee de Sein, and am on the last track to the parquette lighttower, still 18 miles away. I have just changed the High aspect jib for the genoa, as it is still too high for the genaker.
Camaret, here we come!

Bart

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Camaret 5 - (10/06/2008)

Well, tonight has been decidedly better then last night!
Yesterday was a brilliant day, with a nice WSW/SW breeze which allowed a spinaker reach. After dawn, I saw two other yachts. They turned out to be Diablo J and Home of Jazz. The J had put up it's big genaker and in the course of the day disappeared on the horizon. Home of Jazz remained on my starboard side, although ever further in the distance.

Because the wind is expected to veer to the NW tonight, I have gradually gained some westing so that when the shift comes, I don't have to beat. Apparently the other boats have not done so and steer a straight (shorter) course to the Chaussee de Sein buoy, that we have to leave on our starboard hand.

Yesterday I also had some unexpected visitors in the shape of a handful of bees. They were clearly exhausted and hid themselves in every little corner they found. That included my sleeping bag, my trousers lying on the starboard seat, my boots, etc. I was not so pleased with this as I might step on one and get stung.

Last night a front came over, wit a lot of rain. It rained all evening, with just a moderate wind. No spinaker, though. Around midnight it cleared and since then a perfect WSW 4/5 breeze is blowing. We are doing hull speed (7.3 knots) with the big genoa and 1 reef in the main. However, Chaussee de Sein is still 93 miles off so it won't be before tomorrow that we get there.

Bart

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Camaret 4 - (09/06/2008)

Finally, at 0630, a southwesterly breeze came up. So up the code zero. But after half an hour it backed to south so I put up the spi to make the most of it, and gradually this wind veered backi to south west again and increased in strength to a good 10 knots as it is now. Were close reaching under spi (and not quite laying the course) BUT GOING AT 7 KNOTS DUE NORTH. Finally! All night, from 7 to 7, we only made 19 miles...

And now there's another boat in sight, on my leeward bow. I wonder who it is...

Bart

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Camaret 3 - (09/06/2008)

A terrible night! Have been messing about with sails all night: spi, code zero, genoa. But there is just no wind! At half past 1 I thought I'd had it, as a slight wind came up from the south west. Code zero up and we went along nicely. But after 2 hours it was all over again and at 5 I have no speed at all and even made a 360. Oeff.

Bart

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Camaret 2 - (08/06/2008)

Well, my enthusiasm of the previous mails has waned... After a brilliant half hour of increasing southerly wind, with the boat at one time making 4 knots, all died out and here we are completely becalmed. I even took the spi down because there is absolutely not a breath of wind and you never know from which direction the next wind will come. But a beautiful evening it is! The sun sank into the sea, not a cloud to be seen, many dolphins around and a moment ago even two whales! I heard them breathing (I was inside at that time), and they lay lazily on the surface. After a few minutes they were gone.

Bart

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Camaret 1 - (08/06/2008)

To our East, over the French Perynees, a high is developing while from the West a low is coming up. That's why I thought it best to keep as much westing as I could, to get the westerlies around the low first and avoid the calms around the high. After a few hours of calms, which are always very frustrating, I was very pleased to see a southerly wind, however gentle, coming up and at 1915 local time I hoisted the spinaker. It can be clearly seen that the wind is in the west, while the sea is still flat calm to my east. Now try to get into some stronger winds...

Looking to the east, now just before sending this mail, I can still see all the other boats, all in white sails...

So far, so good.

Bart

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Santander 5 - (08/06/2008)

After my previous, optimistic mail the weather (off course!) changed it's mind and after a perfect day's sailing, the night was terrible. There was no wind, except from gusts (between 6 and 26 knots) from all directions. I flew the spinaker, the genaker, the genoa and the high aspect jib one after another and again. It appeared that I was ahead of Dufour 34 Vela Fresca and level with Sigma 36 British Beagle, so considering that I started almost 3 hours later I thought I had done quite well. Unfortunately, both boats finished ahead of me (20 minutes) so I finished last. But once in port, we learned that the fleet was halved, with all other boats having had to retire. Most frequently because of autopilot failure (Jerry Freeman, Mary Falk), but also for reasons not known to us. It is a pity that so few boats made it here.

The stay in Santander was quite enjoyable. I had no urgent repairs to do, except for replacing the runner blocks for the running back stays. Spanish Mail was unexpectedly good, because blocks ordered in Barcelona on Monday afternoon 4.30 arrived in Santander around 11 next morning! I also cleaned the bottom of the boat (and various other boats) and did some repair jobs on other boats. On Jbelina I repaired their broken carbon fibre steering wheel, and on board Home of Jazz, who had all sorts of problems because the boat is really not finished jet, we tried to fix the NKE autopilot. In vain...

Apart from these quite enjoyable jobs we only ate and drank. For people who like food it is nothing less than Paradise! You can have the best of foods all day, everyday! Especially the seafood and the dried hams (ranging in price between 15 and 100 euro per kg) are fantastic!

And now I am becalmed... The start of the last leg was 1300 MEZ, and for a change I had quite a good start, beating out of the river in the first group together with Home of Jazz (very good start!) and the J's. I thought to be clever and sneak between the mainland and Isla Duoro. Could just make it in one tack and was out and leading the field, feeling very pleased with myself. Until British Beagle (very kindly) called me on VHF to tell that the sailing instructions said that Isla Duoro had to be passed on the other side... So back I went, sailed around this island and out again, this time in the back of the field... Once out of the bay, I put up 'De Duif', my largest 'code zero' headsail. I thought that the predicted SW winds would be first experienced to the NW of our position, so I steer a course due NW. That happens also to be the course I can sail fastest on in this very light weather. But at the moment, my luck has ran out and I am becalmed like the rest of the competitors, all to my east.

I hope to pick up the SW winds as soon as possible and have a fast reach all the way to Camaret!
I'll keep you informed.

Bart

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Santander 4 - (04/06/2008)

The end of a perfect sailing day. Started a little rough (SW7 with accompanying seas), but gradually calmed down. Starting the day with 3 reefs and storm jib, the last couple of hours have been under genaker, all day a beam reach. I only hope that it will not calm down any further because I still have a chance to break the boats day run record (midnight to midnight). And I only have 73 miles to the finish, so hope to be there tomorrow morning.

Bart Boosman

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Santander 3 - (03/06/2008)

Well, the first part of the gale has passed now. From 3 AM, the wind started to build and veer to the south-southeast.I took the high aspect off and under double reefed main only we went to seaward. As I approached the end of the continental shelf the seas got really big and breaking all over. En then, suddenly, the wind was gone. But from 3 to 11, I did no less then 35 miles, beating into winds sometimes in excess of 40 knots. I got a bit shaky and nervous, with these rough conditions. The boat however, doesn't seem to mind much. The only damage (which could have been disastrous!!) was a broken block in the running backstay. But that was quickly repaired.

Now rhe sun is out, and the wind is SSW. The big waves are slowly dying out, so that I can also make some more speed. Up to now, I had tgo limit the speed to around 5 knots (3 reefs and high aspect), for fear that the boatg might end up in orbit.

Santander, here we com

Bart

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Santander 2 - (02/06/2008)

This second leg of the BluCube 1000 did not start well for me. However, once underway the going has been very good.

But now the barometer falls like a stone and we all knew that something is brewing for us. The sky also shows all signs of change: a blurred sun and high stratos clouds coming in quickly. The show can begin!

Bart

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Santander 1 - (01/06/2008)

Hi all,

After 2 and a half hours delay, I finally crossed the starting line for the second leg in the BluCube 1000 mile race. The reason for being late is that on my my to the start, the engine suddenly stalled. No fuel. So I had to sort that out first, and after a tow back to the marina, I found that a little non-return valve near the electric fuel feed pump was stuck in closed position. That took a while to find, and was easily solved by drilling a hole through the valve. Should be ok, as the pump is self-priming. Having done that, I washed out the boat as everything smelled of diesel.

Now, however, I'm on my way south. I hope to catch up with the last boats in the fleet, as obviously I am in last position. I am also a bit nervous about this dirty little low pressure area that we are likely to meet on friday. With that in mind, I keep a little to the west of the course to try to have some sea room.

For the time being, the weather is excellent with a nice SW 4 wind. It should stay like that until tomorrow evening...

I'll keep you updated

Bart


De Franschmand
02-07-2008 14.30 UTC
51.29N 8.23W

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Vakantie 2008 - (29/05/2008)

Vorig jaar, 2007, zou ik een tocht naar Noorwegen maken. De eerste avond hab ik een enthousiast mailtje naar de site gestuurd waarin ik dat aankondigde. Alleen, bij dat ene mailtje is het gebleven. De volgende ochtend heel vroeg, toen ik vanuit Harlingen langs de Pollendam naar zee ging, ben ik in een poging buiswater van een passerende Urker viskotter te ontwijken, onhandig uitgegleden en ben voorover de kajuit ingevallen. Alleen 1 voet bleef achter de overloop haken, zodat ik niet in zijn geheel naar binnen viel. Helaad heb ik bij die actie een knieband verrekt, lag mijn hele hiel open en bivendien was mijn rechter middelvinger gebroken en ontwricht. Einde zeilvakantie. Herstel van de vingen heeft maanden geduurd en zelfs nu, een jaar na dato, is hij nog niet de oude.

Dit jaar had ik me voorgenomen om aan de jaarlijkse Petit Bateau race mee te doen. Gewoon een stguk lang en hard varen om weer een beetje routine op te doen en de boot weer te voelen. Jurrien vond het ook een veilig idee, zeker als ik volgend jaar weer een poging ga wagen in de OSTAR. De race heet BLUECUBE SOLO 1000, van 29 juni tot 12 juli en gaat vanaf Mylor (bij Falmouth, zuidwest Engeland) via Kinsale (Ierland), Santander (Spanje) naar Camarer sur Mer in Bretagne. Het grote nadeel van een dergelijke race is dat de start zo ver weg is.

De tocht naar de start was enerverend. De wind is alles geweest tussen nul en acht beaufort, en ook uit alle richtingen. De overheerstende richting was echter zuidwest, zodat op 1 dag na het hele stuk gekruist moest worden. Halverwege ben ik, tot overmaat van ramp, ook nog aan de grond gelopen in een poging dicht onder de kust te varen en zo landwind op te pikken. Dat windje was er inderdaad, alleen ook nog een dikke steen. Dankzij Anna Keen, die op Wight geboren is, bij een werfje een prachtig stuk essenhouyt gekocht om de boel weer e repareren. Dat kostte dan ook weer een dag...
'Maar goed, keurig op tijd kwam ik in Mylor aan. Precies op tijd om op de briefing, di aan de gang was, mijn naam te horen. Het werd een gezellige avind. Een aantal bekenden, en ook een aantal nieuwe gezichten.

Vanochtend om half 10 was de start. Niet zo veel wind, dus genua op. Ik had best een goede start; een paar seconden te laat maar wel in vrije wind en op volle snelheid. Alleen is De Franschman het kleinste, en waarschijnlijk ook langzaamste bootje in het hele veld. De meeste deelnemers liepen dan ook al snel weg en verdwenen aan de horizon. Frustrerend. Na een tijdelijke opleving van de wind, in de vorm van een heus frontje, werd het weer kalmer en moest de genua er weer op. Met de stroom tegen het hele eind gekruist. En kruisen mer veel golven en weinig wind is u eenmaal niet de sterkste kant van mijn boot.

In de achterhoede van het weld ben Land's End gerond. Net buiten de kust ligt nog een groepje rotsen, met een vuurtoren erop. Volgens de kaart loopt er ook een diepe geul tussen de rotsen en het 'vaste' land door. Daar doorheen zou me weer een slag schelen (uiteraard was de wind vandaag westg. zodat we tot Lands End hebben moeten kruisen.) Volgens de kaart lagen er echter ook nog een paar wrakken in de wag... Maar goed, er voeren ook twee bootjes, dus dat moet kunnen. Bij nadere beschouwing. met de verrekijker, bleek dat het zeilboote wel heel rare bewegingen maakte, en dat met klapperende zeilen. Het tweede bootje bleek de reddingboot... Ik heb nog maar eextra slag gemaakt... Zelfs toen ik vrij ver langs de toren langsvoer bleek wat een enorm slechte zee hier kan staan. Nu was het stralend weer met zwakke tot matige wind. Hoe zal het er daar uitzien bij storm? Dan wil je daar fgewoon niet zijn, denk ik. Nu vaar ik over de Keltische zee richting Kinsale. Nog 130 mijl te gaan. En het is stralend weer, met een lopende wind, dus wat willen we nog meer?

Wordt vervolgd.

Bart

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vakantie 2007 - (03/08/2007)

Het is zover; 3 augustus en de zomer begint! Helaas was ik natuurlijk te laat aan boord (tot 2 uur nog gewerkt in Delfzijl, daarna terug naar huis, auto volgegooid met de laatste zooi, een pitstop gemaakt bij Simon (Agrishop) voor groenten en brood, dan nog naar Makkum... zucht) Schutten duurde ook lang, en tot slot was de wind niet zuidwest maar bijna pal west. Daarom maar tegen de ebstroom in naar Harlingen. Wel stralend weer: onbewolkt en een lekker windje. Bij het begin van de Pollendam zou ik,
in de richting van zee, nog 2 uur de stroom meegehad hebben. Dat haal ik natuurlijk nooit, dus maar vastgeknoopt in de buitenhaven van Harlingen.

Verwachting voor komende nacht: WZW 3 tot 4, toenemend ZW 4 tot 5. Kan haast niet beter. Dus trossen los om 0200 morgenochtend.

Bart




Huib is binnen! - (30/06/2005)

Na Nico Budel met de enig overgebleven Open 40, en Leon Bart met zijn
trimaran is gisternacht rond half 1 Huib Zwets gefinished! Hij heeft de
stoerste masttop van iedereen: helemaal kaal, van antennes en windmeters
staan alleen nog stompjes!

In de tweede storm, toen ik dus al niet meer meedeed, heeft hij de volle
laag gekregen. Meer dan 60 knopen wind, en voor top en takel is hij twee
keer plat gegaan. De boot zelf heeft het geweldig doorstaan, vrijwel zonder
schade, maar Huib heeft een zware dip gehad. Het heeft eerst 3 dagen gekost
om uit de storm te komen, en nog twee om zichzelf ertoe te zetten om weer
door te zeilen. Hierdoor heeft hij de aansluiting met de andere boten
verloren en is in een veel minder gunstig weersysteem, met veel meer
windstilte, naar Newport gezeild. Vanochtend heb al ik even met hem
gesproken, hij had een gat in de dag geslapen, en hij zag er goed uit.
Vrolijk en blij er te zijn. En vol verhalen, waar ik natuurlijk erg
nieuwsgierig naar ben. Zo zit zijn plafond vol blutsen en deuken, van
voorwerpen die uit de kast tegen het plafond zijn gevallen!

Vannacht heb ik voor het laatst bij Marieke geslapen. Het was erg gezellig
bij haar, bijna iedere avond het avondmaal op de barbeque bereid, maar ik
mis dan natuurlijk wel het avondprogramma hier in Newport. De komende
nachten slaap ik bij Leon Bart aan boord, en zaterdag ga ik met pont en
bussen naar New York, Jurrien ophalen.

Bart




Newport - (20/06/2005)

Tomorrow morning will I catch the plane to Newport, to see Leon, Huib and
the others in. And party.

It took me a while, mentally, to want to go to Newport, by plane, though. I
was so focussed on going there by boat that, now that I didn't make it, I
didn't want to go anywhere. But now I am really looking forward to it. All
finishers have done well, in my opinion.

Bart




Home again - (17/06/2005)

I am back in Holland again, my OSTAR adventure is over. Yesterday afternoon, at 1720 local time, my father and I sailed into the port of IJmuiden, having done 163 miles in 20 hours 45 minutes. It felt good to sail that fast again, although a bit weird; racing home after having had to retire from a race.

But with the chain replacing my steel wire shroud there is no reason for not sailing fast as this is as strong as can be. It was also good to have my father on board. It cheered me up and my morale is back to normal now. We had the best of weather for the trip back from Kinsale. We only tacked twice, in St. Mary?s harbor, Isles of Scilly, when we left our mooring under sail. Once outside of it, we could set the spinnaker. About an hour later I saw a familiar silhouette on the horizon: Robosail of Pieter Adriaans. I called him on VHF and we had a nice chat. It appeared that he, having retired on the third or so day, made his repairs, spent around a week in the Plymouth area, and then decided that he might as well go again! Of course he won?t win anything but he was in high spirits and expected to be in Newport in about 3 weeks time! From the Scillies, where we spent a (cloudless) day, we sailed to Plymouth for a chat at the Race Office. Unfortunately, most of the officers were on their way to Newport. After a shower we left again and sailed to Salcombe. On a mooring, on this most beautiful river, we spent the night. Next morning we left again and around 30 (cloudless) hours later sailed into Dover for a tide stop. The last 15 or so miles to Dover the wind built up to around 25 to 30 knots, Southwesterly, and when we entered the port (by the Western Entrance) we had 30 to 34 knots in a West going tide and a very choppy sea. But, as usual, the boat didn?t seem to mind and we sailed straight in. In Dover, we had a few hours sleep and at 9 we were out again. As said, we reached IJmuiden next day. Holland greeted me in it?s familiar way: as we sailed up the Noordzeekanaal, rain set in.

So my race is over, but most of the others are still going strong! It is interesting to see who dropped out (and for what reason). Some extraordinary performances are being made. Mervyn Wheatly, in probably the slowest but certainly the heaviest boat, is leading his class! On line honours! Lionel Regnier, my opponent in the POGO, is also doing very well. But best of all are the performances of Richard Hatton in Chimp and Lia Ditton in Shockwave. Respect! Both of them have no comfort whatsoever, are continually soaked, sail very difficult, flimsy looking boats but are still going strong! And I am pleased to see that the three remaining Dutch, Leon Bart, Cees Groot and Huib Swets, are also doing well. I spoke to Leon, via Iridium, two days ago and he was in a very good mood. Cees Groot is going at a somewhat gentler pace, and Huib had a hard time during last week?s gale. In 60 knots wind, he was knocked down twice. And so was his morale, as I understood from Leon, who mailed with him frequently. But he?s back on track!

I will be going over to Newport to see them in. Leon, Huib and I still have one thing to do: drown like a gentleman, in a Newport bar. It took me some time to to get used to the idea, however, of going to Newport by plane!

I have studied my partly broken shroud. It is a fatigue failure, rather then the wire being over stressed. It had to be, as the wind was by far not the worst the boat has been through. And also the waves were nothing like, for instance, last year around Southeast Iceland. But the boat has sailed 25000 miles and fatigue has set in. At least 6 out of 19 tiers (individual solid steel wires, of which the wire is composed) are broken and to stop racing was really just in time! Before the start, in Alkmaar, I had the mast off the boat, and Freddy (principal rigger at Hall Spars) and I checked every detail. Freddy suggested that I should replace the rigging as a whole, as a precaution, but this was beyond my budget. We checked everything and replaced whatever looked worn or damaged. I can't just replace the whole boat, as a precaution. On hindsight, it would have been better, as I have to replace it now anyway. The money reserved for my stay in the USA and the return trip, will now be spent on rigging.

Bart


Isles of Scillie - (11/06/2005)

Eergistgeravond kwam ik in Kinsale aan, na een genezend ontspannen tocht vanuit Crookhaven. De hele dag weinig wind en stralende zon. Mijn rothumeur was iets verbeterd. Kinsale ligt in een soort riviermonding, die wordt (werd) verdedigd met een prachtig fort. De hele omgeving is zeer schilderachtig, heel mooi. Op de steiger stond mijn vader. Hij stond er al de hele dag, hij was die ochtend via Cork naar Kinsale gekomen, om met mij terug naar huis te varen. Hij bleek in hetzelfde vliegtuig te zitten als de opstapper van Bram van Loosdrecht, die met zijn ontmastte Oktavus ook in Kinsale lag. Bram's verzekering wilde dat hij de boot als motorboot terug naar Holland voer. De opstapper had twee plakletters meegenomen: de M en de S. Hij is die middag vertrokken. Wij zijn eerst in de stad wezen eten en de volgende ochtend pas vertrokken.

Het was weer stralend weer, bijna vakantie. Oost, en later Noordoosten wind krachtje drie en bijna de hele dag zon. Geen deining, wat wil je nog meer. Na een tocht van 140 mijl, in 25 uur, kwamen vanochtend om half 10 de Scillies in zicht. Wat is dit toch een gebied wat je moet mijden als de pest als het ook maar even waait of slecht zicht is. Allemaal rotsen, links en rechts in zee, over mijlen uitgespreid. Wij zijn tussen de eilandjes Tresco en Bryther ingevaren en hebben een mooring opgepikt voor het piertje van New Grimsby, het dorpje. De Scillies zijn beroemd om hun weelderige subtropische flora, met als hoogtepunt een botanische tuin op het eiland Tresco. Wij zijn het eiland rondgelopen, en hebben bij de tuin gestaan. Wij vonden het hele eiland al een botanische tuin, met een vreemde mengeling van cactussen, naaldbomen, palmen en allerlei bloeiende stuiken, maar de botanische tuin slaat alles. 7 hectare groot met 3500 verschillende soorten gewassen. Entree 8.50 pond, en omdat we al wat laat waren hebben we dat niet gedaan. Volgende keer.

Mijn rothumeur is een beetje over, het vakantiegevoel krijgt de overhand. Gelukkig, het voelt zo veel fijner.




Shroud - (08/06/2005)

Today was a lovely day. I slept til late this morning and then set out to replace the broken shroud. As you can see on the new pictures, this is what happened. I have to be really glad that the mast is still standing!

I removed the spectra lines that I had rigged up to reinforce the shroud, and then removed the shroud itself. To do that, I had to disconnect the upper shrouds from the spreader and take the whole stainless steel spreader end down. Happy me with my big, solid vice! In my vice, I was able to file away the welds that secured the pin on which the wire itself sat, and with some effort, could take the whole thing apart. I then reinstalled the spreader end, reconnected the upper shrouds, end replaced the (broken) lower shroud by my anchor chain. A piece of dyna-one going up and down several times was used to tighten the chain, and I think I am ready to go now.

The rest of the day, I went alongside the old harbor wall (which dries at low water) and cleaned the boat. Everything was salty, especially the floor boards. And I dried the sails. So when I leave, tomorrow very early, the boat is almost back in cruising mode.

Note from Jurrien: pictures will be posted soon. Please be patient.




Crookhaven - (08/06/2005)

And here I am, Crookhaven, Ireland.

I came in around 9 last night. It was so strange, Ireland was so far away! When still racing I had the feeling that it had all just begun, and that I had only just left Plymouth. But anyway, Crookhaven is a beautiful natural harbor, formed by a long, narrow island and a couple of rocks and is located at the very Southwest point of Ireland. From the harbor entrance you can see the Fastnet Rock.

I tied up alongside the old harbor wall, but it turned out to be eb (lowering water), so I relocated to a flimsy floating dinghy pontoon with access to the wall. I could have a shower in the sailing club, if only it worked, so in the end I had a shower in the local pub. Then they served me a bowl of delicious seafood 'growther', thick soup, with dark bread, butter and a pint of stout. Back into civilisation again. After that I took the boat to a mooring and slept until 10 this morning.

After a quick breakfast I set out to remove all shrouds on the starboard side, and think of what I can make instead. Problem is (and that is one of the reasons I couldn't do this at sea) that the pin that locks the shroud to the spreader, is welded to it to prevent falling out. Very effective, a bit too much so at the moment.

I'll keep you posted.

Bart




Radio silence - (07/06/2005)

As Bart is not giving any updates on his whereabouts and his state of mind, I will give you a bit of news. He is doing much better than a couple of days ago when he got us all worried with his rather depressed mood. I can't blame him.
However, he is progressing slowly towards Ireland, sailing with very little wind and at times motoring. When I spoke to him earlier today he hoped and expected to reach the first port (I forgot the name) later today. He will take a hot shower there, catch up on some sleep, have a good meal and an Irish whiskey (admitted, nothing beats the real stuff but he will have to make do) and than proceed to Kinsale where his father will meet him.
Together they will sail back to Holland.

Posted by Jurrien


12/51191620. - (05/06/2005)

It feels strange. When racing, it felt as if the race had only just begun, but now that I am going back, Ireland feels such a long way! Still 250 miles to go. I am not in a very active mood. Last night, I hoisted my radar reflector, put up small sails (last night the wind was still East) and went to bed. Around midnight, the wind shifted to SW (as expected), and I went about, heading for Fastnet Rock. I went straight back to bed and didn't come out until late this morning. It was still misty. But now, The sun has come out and I am going at 6 knots. But I still feel very disappointed.




Disaster - (04/06/2005)

Dear friends,

Yesterday I had a difficult day. I had a bad hadache (which evolved during the second day, very much unlike me as I never have hadaches. It might be from exposure as the first two days were very bright) and generally didn't feel well. That could not be said from the boat. She was going flat out, even though I had very little sail on. Yesterday morning the wind was over 35 knots, up to 38 knots, for several hours. Later on during that day the wind die a little, but every now and then came back to around 30 knots. The waves were very irregular. Not particularly high, around 4 meters, but steep and every one hundred or so made for the perfect jump. The subsequent landings were most horrible. At every such occasion I closed my eyes and felt the whole boat vibrating. How long can this go on? But the boat didn't seem to mind.

At around ten yesterday morning the whole boat was swamped by a huge breaker. I don't know where it came from, but all of a sudden the boat was completely submerged and dark inside. The force of this wave was tremendous. I can easily imagine that boats smaller or less sturdily built than De Franschman can be crashed or rolled in a wave like this one. Luckily I had all doors and hatches closed so very little water came inside, but when I looked through my aft windows (at the time I was just standing in the cabin, getting dressed to go outside) I saw that there was still around a meter of water in the cockpit and I saw the boat surfacing again. A very special feeling which gave me great confidence.

At around noon yesterday I suddenly felt that this was enough. A moment of weakness? At least I felt so, at that time. I took down the jib and, under triple reefed main alone, continued slowly but comfortably on my SWerly heading. I had a decent meal and went to bed. Late last night, I tacked (51081808) and went slowly NW. I had a good, deep sleep of around 5 hours. When I woke up, the wind had indeed died out to around 15 knots and I went on deck to make more sail and continue fighting. My position was 51221829.

The moment I got on deck and looked up at the mast (in a way religious people look up to their god(s)), I saw that the starboard shroud, the part from deck to the lower spreader, was about to break. One tier had come out to about half way, and I could see from below that, at the upper terminal, at least two other tiers had broken and that the rest came out at a funny angle. I immediately realised, that, had I continued racing yesterday, the mast would have gone over the side within 15 minutes, or maybe even less than that.

Yesterday, I felt that I had a moment of weakness. Now I realise once again the importance of feelings like that. They have saved me more that once! Prejudice?

In order to examine the damage I climbed the mast. Severity: fatal. I don't have an other piece of 6mm steel wire on board to replace the stay, but I did have a shackle which fits in the terminal. Through it, I put a second shackle and through that a piece of 10mm, ultra low stretch rope. It sounds quite easy, but hanging about in a bosun's chair half way a wildly swaying mast is not that easy. Back on deck I connected a large shackle to both ends of the 10mm rope and with a piece of dyna-one tightened it as taut as possible. Now, at least, the mast is not likely to go over the side any more.

But what next? I am only at a quarter of the distance, with at least one heavy gale (next tuesday/wednesday) to go. I have no other choice than returning to Ireland, under reduced rig, and find a replacement shroud. But this would mean disqualification. It is with tears in my eyes that, over the past couple of hours, I have come to realize that my race is over. If this had happened in Mid-Atlantic the choice would have been different, but with Ireland at only 300 miles, at the risk of loosing my entire rig and what else (hole the boat?) I have no choice.

It is particularly disappointing as I was doing really well. I had overtaken Lionel Regnier, my main opponent in a modified POGO 850, and was firmly at first place in class, both on handicap as line honours. And off course that the boat was doing so well; she really seems to like a good beating. Behind Lionel, we had a 200 mile gap to number three.

I don't know where I am going to, but probably the Irish wast coast or maybe around the corner to Kinsale. I know Octavus (another competitor) is there right now, dismasted on the third day. Luckily I still have my mast and feel well on an otherwise sound boat.




Bo writes: - (04/06/2005)

Saturday June 4, 2005

Just got the message that Bart retired with a broken starbord schroud and return toward Ireland. As the race is off for Bart now, I am writing this without exact knowledge of his noon position. I am anticipating it to be 51N 19W.

Bart has at this moment 20 kts of southerly winds that will back to westerly and strengthen to 35-40 kts during the evening and through the night as an occlusion point will pass 100 nm to his north. I am anticipating that with the weak rigg he will pass the night under a number 4 jib or storm fock without mainsail, there will be enough strain on the repaired starbord schroud as it is, laying on a starbord tack. And now he is not in a hurry. I expect anyway that the boat will make quite a headway and estimate his noon position Sunday to be 51N 16W. He will probably not go too far north at this time to be able to have some weak westerlies for sunday-monday. If he goes to 52N will he have weak easterlies instead.

From Sunday noon the now filled in cyclone will pass close to the north of him giving weak westerlies, perfect time for culinary extravagancies. After the passing, he will find himself in a trough, Monday noon will be calm at 51N 14W. Time for fishing.

The period Monday-Tuesday will see some light wind filling in from the south, tuesday noon wind will be south at 10-15 kts at 52N 12W, slightly more to the north now. Time to cook that 45lbs tuna fish.

By wednesday he should be able to reach Ireland. As I do not know for which port he is heading at this time, I can only give the winds as: at 50N - calm ; at 53N - west 15 kts.

Bo


Disaster and disappointment - (04/06/2005)

Just received a phone call from a very disappointed Bart. He broke his starboard stay. He climbed the mast to make an emergency repair but didn't think it wise or safe to continue for another 2300 miles. He will retire to Ireland. The only good point is that he didn't loose his mast so he can sail back.