Slownet

A good onboard report from Maximus as they (so far) dominate the Fastnet.

Our position at 2100 hours gmt:
50 06 77 N
7 17 93 W

Rounded Fastnet rock at 3.33 am in the morning after a very slow and frustrating last 24 miles sailing down the Irish coast in virtually drifting conditions. What wind there was had gone into the south and varied between zero and 4 knots. We decided to work the shore and made the most of a tidal eddy until the tide changed to assist us for the last 7 miles into the old rock.

I caused a little consternation with the crew at one stage around 2am insisting we tack the shortest course to the mark and Mike Quilter worried somewhat that we had tacked too soon and would drift past it and not be able to get back! Anyway I was convinced to play it safe and we tacked in again to avoid that situation. Drifted past the rock and greeted by a lonely official in a tender who no doubt was there to ensure we rounded the correct way and that all crew on deck were wearing their lifejackets.

A 7 mile run out to the offset mark then a turn to port bound for those Scilly Isles! Light reaching in 3 to 8 knots; many changes between the code zero and code 2. Good to keep the boys busy wooling up the Gennakers!

Every vessel that was in sight was scanned to see if the opposition had sneaked up on us. Finally news came thru that Scandia Wild Thing had rounded about 6 hours behind us! That put us about 10 hours ahead of them on corrected.

Then the inevitable happened... of course the wind disappeared completely and even those elusive cats paws were gone! Slowly slowly, though the wind finally began to fill as we worked our way south of that stationary high and at last we were back to 10 to 12 knots in 6 to 8 knots true. We seem at last to be learning the boat as now we are not happy if we are not 4 knots faster than true wind speed in this range. The wing mast trim and the sheeting angles are critical to our performance. Tom Dodson and Rick Bouzaid aren't so bad as well of course!

Also it sure makes a big difference not to be dragging along the broken remains of our Cannard actuator from the bottom of the Hull as we were in the last half of the Transatlantic race.

News now through that we are 3rd on corrected behind Patches by 2 hours or 2.8% and Aera by just half an hour. Nice surprise for us as its a rare thing for big boats to be playing with these IRC optimised yachts. Still a long way to go before the fat lady sings though.

As I sign off for the evening and tuck back up in my cosy stateroom listening with one ear to ensure the crew are working their hardest we are now 30 miles from the Scilly Isles doing 14.5 in 11 knots true, code zero back on, TWA 102 and true direction 016. Lets hope the breeze stays in for us.... we just might give those Irish a fright, just need some Kiwi luck! About time the boys reckon.

ETA tomorrow morning sometime. Better hurry up or we won't get over the shoal into that marina .....several refreshing ales a good incentive!

Over for now from team Maximus Kiwi.

08/10/05

First In

Here is the Maximus fastnet finish report, courtesy of the Maximus boys. They certainly seemed to put the wood to Skandia....

Celebrations began early this morning as ICAP Maximus crossed the finish line in Plymouth Sound, to round off a perfect Fastnet race for co-owners Bill Buckley, Charles St Clair Brown and their crew. In spite of stiff competition and some very challenging light airs sailing, ICAP Maximus extended its lead over Skandia Wild Thing, the Volvo 70 Telefonica Movistar and other contenders for line honours, to cross the line just after 08.20 local time on Wednesday morning.

Speaking shortly after the Super Maxi had docked, Charles St Clair Brown thanked Rolex, the sponsors of the 2005 event and praised his crew for their fantastic efforts. Although ICAP Maximus finished ahead of the fleet by a phenomenal time margin, the 600 course taken over the past three days had been far from easy. After rounding Fastnet Rock at 03.33 local time on Tuesday morning, the high pressure system sitting over the Irish Sea frustrated efforts to make good time away from Fastnet and back towards the Scilly Isles.

Winds as low as 2.5 knots made precision helming and precise calls for sail changes absolutely crucial, as the ICAP Maximus crew headed south to exit the high. By late afternoon the winds were building again, as predicted by navigator Mike Quilter, and key helmsmen Richard Bouzaid, Tom Dodson, Greg Elliott - the yacht's designer -, Jeff Scott and George Hendy worked hard to find wind and heat up the pace.

As Tuesday evening drew on the wind built and ICAP Maximus recorded its fastest speeds of the race during the night's reach towards Plymouth. With 16 knots showing at times, significantly above the wind speed of 13 knots, the Kiwi yacht headed for line honours and a place in the history books.

During all the race, apart from the period a few hours after the start, the only competitors seen were on the distant horizon. "Once we'd rounded the Fastnet Rock," commented Charles St Clair Brown, "we were quietly confident that, with a crew of this calibre, we would finish strongly." His confidence proved correct and, with the support and assistance of ICAP, this super maxi has notched up yet another race win, achieved in difficult and demanding conditions.

Graham Sprigg

08/10/05