Eftersom det är Fastnet-år i år, och flera västkustbåtar skall segla, så har jag lovat att göra en recap på vårt äventyr och några av lärdomarna som vi gjorde.
Kan säkert bli lite annat gôtt tjôt?
Välkommen till Fiskekrogen på After Sail med Sjösportskolan!
17.30 – 18.30 Peter Gustafsson berättar om sitt senaste Fastnet och ger ovärderliga tips!
18.30 – After Sail-mingel med Sjösportskolan, Blur, Bengt Tarre (Farr65r Celeste) och Henrik Ottosson på (Ker 39 Vencom)
Begränsat antal platser. Först till kvarn!
Mat och dryck till förmånliga priser!
Välkommen!
Morten Brandt, som ju startade det omåttligt populära Silverrudder, tar nu tag i nästa projekt: Vegvisir Race.
Det är två banor på antingen 150 eller 200 som antingen seglas på två eller tre personer.
Jag gillar upplägget, och när Morten är inblandad så är jag säker på att det blir bra.
Det som jag däremot har lite svårt för är att man i Danmark vill göra saker på nya, och i många fall lite krångligare, sätt…
Vi vet att doublehanded-race i detta format funkar bra – och blir utmanande för de flesta.
Blir det verkligen så mycket bättre av att man har en klass för de med 3 i besättningen? Eller att man skall in i Svendborg Sund för att eventuellt få ankra i motströmmen? Och varför segla banorna åt valfritt håll? Och hur kul är det att segla chican-bana alldeles själv mitt i natten före målgång.
Jag brukar skämtsamt prata om “artificiell komplexitet” – och jag får den känslan när det ordnas shorthandedrace i Danmark. Gemensamt för nästan alla framgångsrika race är att de i grunden är relativt enkla?
I vilket fall skall det bli spännande att följa arrangemanget.
Shorthanded sailing reinvented – Vegvisir Race
The man behind Silverrudder Challenge Morten Brandt is ready with a new event concept for shorthanded sailing. The event Vegvisir – Archipelago Race is a collaboration between the Munipalcity of Guldborgsund and Morten Brandt’s company SHORT HAND – Event Content Marketing.
Vegvisir – Archipelago Race is a double and triplehanded event in a format never seen before – more on that later.
It will go down close to mid-summer during the weekend from June 24th-25th, which means long days and short light nights that make sailing safer and guarantee epic and shareable experiences of the unique nature for participants and their families and friends a shore. It is not finally decided where in Guldborgsund Municipality, the start and finish will be located, but it will be either in Sakskoebing or Nykoebing Falster. Here the conditions as port capacity, navigation options and above all the local clubs’ desire and opportunities to engage are key.
Everyone needs a Vegvisir
Vegvisir an Icelandic magical symbol that helps you to find your way. The myth says that the bearer of this sign never get lost. On the contrary, he/she will always get through the storm and bad weather even when the route is unknown.
– A Vegvisir is both a compass literally and figuratively. It helps people to find their way at sea and in life. Therefore the symbol is a perfect match for the new event where the demands to the navigators are extreme and as the side events will “calibrate” people’s ethical compass as they focus on environmental problems for the oceans . Both the event and the side events are organized in close collaboration with the munipalcity of Guldborgsund and one og more local yacht clubs, says Morten Brandt.
Extreme demands on the participants
Comparing Vegviser Race the existing double- and triple-handede races in Denmark and abroad the kinship to adventure sports is considerably larger.
– The race puts great demands on the participants’ skills, physics and tactical abilities. It will be an achievement to complete. During the development of the concept we were past several formats. Among other things, we had dogma sailing without the use of electronic devices on the drawing board. But instead of trying to turn back the clock, we have chosen to see things as they are. This means that we have chosen two course formats that will make extreme demands on the participants’ ability to use the electronics on board as navigators, meteorologists, tacticians and strategists, says Morten Brandt.
Beggebaner inkl ærø-omvej
Broadly speaking, the race has two courses. A large boat course and a small boat course. There will be one common start, after which the sailors will set out either a 150 or 200 nautical miles long course.
The 150 NM course goes from the starting line to tight sailing in the narrow channels between the islands of the Småland Sea. The current runs strong and big rocks dating back to the ice age will make safe navigation crucial. From there through the magnificent shallow nature park Bogestrommen, past the Spectacular cliff of Møn and into the Baltic Sea. Back to more tight in shore racing between the islands via Grønsund before crossing the finishing line.
The long course has also tight in shore sailing between the islands of Smålandshavet after the start. Then the sailors are taken west, north of Langeland, through the challenging Svendborgsund, through the even more challenging Ø-havet to a mark south of Marstal. Now the route goes offshore into the Baltic Sea into German waters. Back towards Smålandshavet and several chicanes before the finish. There will be lots of changes and “gearshifts”, when it goes from in-shore to offshore and back to inshore sailing.
– As a new feature the sailors must choose themselves if they will go clock wise or counter clock wise round the course. Further more the direction round in the inshore part is the sailors own call. This means that each team will get to choose between 8 different course options. It will require a strategy and tactics must be in place before starting and it will have to take into account the development in the weather over the next 30-40-50 hours, says Morten Brandt.
The sailors can be followed from shore via trackers and there will be a virtual leaderboard that shows the current position of the participants based on the voyaged distance.
You will soon be able to find all practical information regarding the event and enroll in www.vegvisirrace.com.
In a good cause
In addition to creating a unique event for sailors, the goal is to establish a cross-cultural event that will attract interest from across Europe and extending far beyond sailing’s sphere. Nevertheless, the event’s core and starting point is the challenging, spectacular and digital shareable double- and triplehanded racing. This is complemented by side events that focus on sustainability, marine environment, marine and coastal quality and solutions to human problems such as micro-plastic in the ocean that surrounds us.
– I will try to help give back to the sport of sailing and the sea which I love. The ambition is that the event is moving in the direction of an international people’s meeting on the marine environment. The journey starts this year with a well designed event. The aim is to create curiosity for the event, the area and the concept, says Morten Brandt.
The 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 started in magnificent conditions with the largest ever offshore fleet assembled in the Caribbean enjoying sparkling conditions. Close to 900 sailors from 30 different nations competed in the 9th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s classic offshore race. Olympic medallists, America’s Cup winners and round the world sailors competed alongside passionate corinthians on the same 600 mile race course around 11 Caribbean islands, starting and finishing in Antigua. The 2017 edition will be remembered for highly competitive racing throughout the fleet, with American yachts winning the major prizes. The race was affected by unusual weather conditions, with a low pressure system sending the wind direction spinning through 360º of the compass.
Om någon undrar vad som är storheten med Vendee Globe, så räcker det att se den här videon. Conrad Colman kommer 16:e efter många motgångar, och vilket otroligt mottagande han får.
I got an email from Sébastien, who races J/111 BEL11111 Djinn.
Good evening Peter,
I hope that you are doing well. We have been fortunate enough to get a spot for Fastnet 2017 on Djinn, and I had a few questions for you if you do not mind sharing your experience in the 2015 edition…
Here are the key ones for now
So cool. See my answers below.
Crew number
How many people did sail Fastnet on Blur in 2015?
Did you have shore / reserve crew just in case? What was the logic (e.g.. last-minute replacement, option for extra weight if heavier weather forecast, …)?
Normally we race with 9 persons, but in IRC (endorsed) we were limited to 8. Fortunately, our 9th crew got to sail with another Swedish yacht and did very well.
I think it’s always good to go for maximum weight, but even more important to have raced offshore together and have fun as a team. If you have the opportunity to have a spare guy it’s a bonus. Also, the logistics with stuff from Cowes to Plymouth is much easier if you have someone helping out.
Crew organization
How did you organize your watch system?
2 groups (on deck & resting) or 3 groups (on deck, standby, resting)?
Rhythm / length of watches?
Anyone off-watch (e.g. navigator)?
What was the philosophy in terms of resting time vs hiking time? Did you require crew to rest while hiking in the rail? In which circumstances / with which limits vs proper resting inside?
We wanted to rotate helmsmen and trimmers as much as possible to be able to drive the boat 100% all the times. So we decided on a 3 watch system with 2+2+2 hours: on – standby – off.
1. On = responsible to sail the boat at 100%, with focus on driving and trimming. Making the call on sail changes and other adjustments. Typically, this means a helmsman and a trimmer upwind. Mostly doing main but also jib adjustments. Downwind you need a third person on the winch. Only time we needed more than three was in waves downwind when we had helmsman + main + gennaker + staysail + winch = 5 guys.
2. Standby = on deck ore doing navigation, nutrition, cleaning up or helping out with sail changes. Also in some cases rotating back in on the helm or trimmers. But key to be able to relax after two intense hours on.
3. Off = in the bunk below. Without foul weather gear, well fed and maximizing quality sleep. We arranged three proper sea bunks (2 in the saloon + 1 aft) to make crew weight always as effective as hiking on deck.
This worked out very well, and as soon as we struggled there was 2-3 fresh people coming on deck. When we got into the routine it became a machinery, and we would have been able to do another lap after finishing…
Crew roles in watches
Designated helmspersons, or everyone helming depending on circumstances?
Designated bowpersons, or everyone on the foredeck depending on circumstances?
Other roles for which there were designated persons / specialists?
Crew roles on shore: how did you organize/delegate things such as logistics, food, safety, admin, boat prep, nav systems setup, etc among the team?
The ”speed team” had a designated helmsman and a trimmer that worked well together. Continuous communication is key when sailing becomes monotone. The third person was typically grinding, doing foredeck and/or pit.
We also had three navigators, one on each standby watch, that complemented each other (our normal navigator, me as a skipper and a watch captain) Before the race we did the nav preparation together, “dry-sailed” the race with old weather and had meetings with our meteorologist. This meant we we’re in tune, and handovers were easy.
We also had our normal roles in a “all on deck” mode w additional roles of communication and diver.
In preparation, we tried to spread duties around the team as much as possible. Who does what depends on the crew… We pretty much had:
– Race admin
– Safety (+ inspection)
– Weather/tides
– Nav systems
– Com systems
– Rig
– Sails
– Food/nutrition/water
– Logistics
– “work list manager” :-)
Crew preparation & training
How many days of training / prep did you plan excluding qualifying races?
What did you focus on more specifically (e.g. safety / boat handling / other)?
Did you use qualifying races as training opportunities as well? On what topics?
Which sail change manoeuvres did you specifically focus on during training?
Tack changes (jib / jib)?
Reaching spinnaker drops & emergency spinnaker drops?
Transitions jib < -> furling Code 0 < -> spinnaker?
Spinnaker peels?
MOB recovery at all points of sail & under spinnaker?
Other?
Each of us spent ~30 days in 2015:
2 days boat prep in the sprting + rigging
2-3 evenings practice
2 x 4 days qualifying
~1 week transport (2 stages there + 1 home)
4-7 days in Cowes before the race
5-7 days racing + logistics
We did two qualifying races 100 + 200 miles, but also did the transport to the first race in full race mode. So 200 + 200 miles and 4 nights at sea (2 in rough upwind mode + 2 in nicer conditions).
We wanted this to be as similar to Fastnet as possible, so same watches, same food, same medication for sea sickness… just to find out where we had weaknesses or areas that could be improved. Focus was to get the routines to work with prio on performance (always on 100%) and getting nav/weather/decisions right.
We also had 2 full days to sail from Cowes to the Needles and back, figuring out tides and stuff. We figured out the correct time to make an imaginary start that matched the real one from a tide perspective, and figured it out. Without prior local knowledge, we were #1 in IRC1 at the Needles. Not by following “conventional wisdom” but by figuring stuff out for ourselves.
If you don’t have all the sail changes organized, spend time making them simple and easy to do in the dark. Offshore races aren’t won by brilliant maneuvers, but lost due to failed ones. For example, it’s not a big thing if you have to do a bare-headed spinnaker change. But if you can’t go from J2 to J3 when the wind picks up at 03:00 you’re in big trouble,
The big thing we should have practiced more would be steering/trimming fast in big waves and dark/fog. We had huge problems when the wind rose to 24 knots on the way to the rock, and there were no references. You might be able to get more time in those conditions.
Boat preparation
Did you make any tweaks to the boat for easier/safer/faster handling & sailing in offshore races?
In hindsight, would you do anything differently?
I talked to some British J/111 sailors before the season, and the common theme was “keep the boat dry”. It’s a wet boat, and you’ll be able to perform better if you keep it dry below. We had a small dodger, and put Sika on the anchor locker.
Most of the mods are just small things to make everything work smooth; sea bunks, colored hooks for personal gear, organization of food,
One very useful thing is to have performance (% of polar BSP w 10s damping) on the mast. Then you can always see how close to 100% you’re racing the boat. And be more relaxed when you’re doing great.
Will we have the pleasure to see you and Blur in Cowes this Summer? Doing Fastnet again?
We’ll stay in Scandinavia in 2017 (some of my crew might do Fastnet) and we’re looking at a European Tour in 2018.
Marie Björling Duell ny förbundsdirektör på Svenska Seglarförbundet
Det blir Marie Björling Duell som tar över rodret på Svenska Seglarförbundet (SSF). Henne primära uppdrag blir att utveckla SSF:s verksamhet mot visionen ”Svensk segling – tillgänglig för alla”.
– Det ska bli fantastiskt roligt att få jobba med svensk segling och visionen ”Svensk segling – tillgänglig för alla”. Svenska Seglarförbundet är ett väl fungerande förbund med erfarna och kompetenta medarbetare, som jag ser fram emot att få jobba tillsammans med. Som elitseglare är det förstås en dröm att få denna möjlighet och jag skall göra mitt yttersta för att utveckla svensk segling på bästa, säger Marie Björling Duell.
Maries CV, inom seglingsvärlden, är imponerande. Åren efter millennieskiftet var hon i det närmaste oslagbar på matchracingarenorna runtom i världen. Fyra år i sträck toppade hon världsrankingen överlägset. Marie har sex VM-medaljer, varav den senaste är ett silver från 2009. Sedan 2013 har hon varit styrelseledamot i Svenska Seglarförbundet som elitansvarig/utbildningsansvarig.
Yrkesmässigt har Marie en bred grund. Hon är certifierad mental/idrottspsykologisk rådgivare och är legitimerad sjuksköterska och barnmorska. Hon har arbetat både inom sjukvården, medicinsk teknik och läkemedel med fokus på försäljning, utbildning, ledarskap. Marie har haft både personal- och verksamhetsledande positioner. Närmast kommer hon från Kompetenshamnen där hon arbetat med utveckling av individer och verksamheter, inom både idrott och näringsliv.
– Det är med stor glädje jag konstaterar att vi lyckats knyta till oss Marie som ny förbundsdirektör i SSF. Marie är, med sin bakgrund och erfarenhet, mycket kompetent att vidareutveckla SSF, säger Anders Selling, ordförande i SSF.
SSF:s nuvarande förbundsdirektör, Stefan Rahm, lämnar sin tjänst i samband med årsmötet 18 mars. Exakt datum när Marie Björling Duell tillträder är ännu inte bestämt.
Svenska Seglarförbundet är ett av 71 specialidrottsförbund som är anslutna till Riksidrottsförbundet (RF) och ett av 35 olympiska specialförbund i Sveriges Olympiska Kommitté (SOK). Svenska Seglarförbundet har cirka 105 000 medlemmar fördelade på 350 klubbar, 17 distrikt och 80 klassförbund.
Formalian kring kappsegling är ibland svår att förstå…
Kan tävlingsledningen skriva i inbjudan att man ska vara registrerad 20.00 och sedan strunta i det och registrera båtar senare? Eller är inbjudan inte ett formellt dokument i den meningen?
Kan man bjuda in till banseglingar och i stället köra en distansbana?
