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Part C: training on the raceboat
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Ahead of the leg from La Rochelle, Tom Gruitt explains the final stage of his training..."Part C training is completed on the boat that you will be competing in the race on, this gives a bit more time for the crew and Skipper to bond. I will be sailing with Jan Ridd on Cape Breton Island, by far the coolest looking Clipper 68 in the race!
"The main aim of the final week of training is to create a slick racing team that can perform every manoeuvre quickly, efficiently and of course safely. Our skipper Jan ran through a lot of techniques for reefing and the best way to change headsails, and we all talked among the crew about the way we thought is best to carry these things out.
"The main part of the week was spending 4 or 5 days offshore racing against the other Part C 68s. The race started in the Solent with a bit of round the cans stuff before we headed out past the needles to take Alderney to starboard, a mark off of Dartmouth to starboard and a finish back in the Solent.
"Everything started well with us making good speed upwind out into the channel, although when we got near Alderney it all started to go wrong for me. The wind kept picking up and the sea was building, I managed to eat a bit and felt fine but after a trip down below to get to bed I had to reach for the bucket. The silver, slightly metallic looking bucket became my best friend for the next 10 hours or so as I wallowed in my own self pity down below (I wasn’t the only one though). I can’t really tell you what happened after being near Alderney, but I woke up and we were moored just outside of Poole Harbour, I think we stopped there due to the crew attrition rate being quite high.
"Later that morning we set sail to meet all the other boats on the South side of the Isle of Wight for the Clipper photoshoot, we all had to sail in formation pinching hard well over pressed which isn't easy, it was worth it though, the photos are great! The photoshoot was the start of another practice race to Portland and back, I helmed a lot upwind to round the mark at Portland to starboard, although Edinburgh seemed to think it was a port rounding, this kept me on my toes as we met at the mark! Spinnakers were hoised and the chase of Cork for 1st place was on, we spinnakered through the night and were taking huge chunks out of Corks lead, finally gybing inside them south of the Isle of Wight to take the lead, crossing between the forts not long after for the win! I know it's nothing in comparison to racing round the world, but a win early on is always a good moral booster!
"Sailing with some of the crew I will be on the boat with for Leg 1 was great, it really brought everyone together into a great time. I am looking forward to the race a lot, although am slightly nervous too. The challenge of sailing the boat and having to take stunning photos to send back will be a big one, but one I can't wait to complete. "
Tom flies out from Southampton tomorrow to join the fleet in La Rochelle.
posted by Hyde Sails at
02:00
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