Lean Mean Racing Machine!

The hectic learning curve continues, having just returned from Level 3 training.

Skippers Damian and Matt (my skipper) took some of their teams out on Qingdao for three days sailing round the Solent, reefing sails, practicing racing starts and changing head sails. I really enjoy sailing the Clipper 68s, however we then came back to port and transferred onto one of the new Clipper 70s.

The Clipper 70 is a LEAN MEAN RACING MACHINE! Working two watches; Damian's crew and Matt's crew; more pieces of the jigsaw fitting together with six of my fellow team on board that I am going to get to know very well over the next year; Derek (round the world crew member) and plus Neil, Hannah, Maud and Mark ( they are doing legs of the race). We practiced racing against four other 70s and two other 68s going from the Solent to Alderney and back. The Clipper 68s are great but the 70s are very impressive; flatter, open decks, so a lot easier to get around, twin helms, well positioned winches and below decks a well set out Galley and the sail and rope locker is well away from the main sleeping area ( which is good when one watch is trying to sleep! )

I did quite a bit of helming and managed to get our boat up to 14 knots in speed, which I thought was good. Then Matt took to the helm and he really got the machine to move, with a very big grin on his face, I think I saw 22 knots on the panel achieved, if so is this a new record for the 70's? And only in the English Channel, what are these boats going to do when they get into the Southern Ocean! Anyway practice race won, but perhaps I shouldn't mention these things yet as we don't want to demoralise the other teams too much yet!

Now  back in Portsmouth for the day, I have just been to the Marine Superstore to buy a dry suit and more items of kit for the race. Tomorrow we have team bonding for the weekend which I shall tell you about on my return.