Cool Runnings wins in the Tour Belle Ile

Cool Runnings was succesfull in the recent Tour Bell Ile (the frensch version of the UK RTI). She kept all the other Open 750 at bay after a light and tricky start she excelled in te final stages with more breeze to take visctory with a substantial lead.

Spi Ouest 2012

Spi Ouest 2012 provided all the action the Open 7.50’s could ask for. With 128 J-80’s on the course, another 60 other One designs, all together on a 1sq. mile area, a gennaker that blinds about 50% of your view and speeds in access of 20kn we had more action than we could have wished for. With the 7.50’s originating from La Trinite the class attracts some of the key French offshore multihull sailors as well as the first Uk team, Cool Runnings.  On the first day with winds in 25-30kn range we quickly discovered that an Open 7.50 kind of eats its crew and spits it out. After 4 short races on the first day, with plenty of drama, Cool Runnings was leading but not without trouble. On one of the kite drops the articulating pole was released slightly ahead of the gennaker tack line and  bowman Jamie Smith, fully set up to do a weather drop, became the first carbon pole propelled human cannonball. He disappeared from the cockpit to the forestay in less than a second…..and perfectly captured by Thiery Martinez. For most of the Open 7.50 crews pain killers where high in demand during breakfast the next day. Day 2 and 3 produced lighter breeze and Safran (Marc Guillemot) took the lead Cool Runnings and Atchoum ( Nicolas Groleau) with some amazing high skilled sailing. The last day brought the breeze back again and with Safran in comfortable lead it was between Atchoum and Cool Runnings to battle for 2^nd and 3^rd on the final race day. Nicolas showed his skills as a sailor and builder of the boats and managed to keep Cool Runnings at bay. Spi Ouest provides excellent racing and I cannot praise our race officer on our course enough. With back to back racing and many many starts it was absolutely flawless race management I’ve seldom seen. The Open 7.50 seem to have a revival. The boats are extremely well build and exceptional fun for the money. With over 28 build by Nicolas originally there are plenty for sale and the ultimate way to get into adrenaline fuelled sailing for a modest budget.

The medium of my profession

More Surfing Videos

Merry X-mas and the best results for 2012

 .....and to all the other nationalities I've sailed with this year:

Buon Natale e un felice anno nuovo (Italian)
Prettige kerstdagen en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar (Dutch)
Merry Milied u sena ġdida kuntenti (Maltese)
С Рождеством и Новым годом (Russian)
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr (German)
God Jul och ett gott nytt år (Swedish)
Glædelig jul og et Godt Nytår (Danish)
Geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar (Afrikaans)
God Jul og et Godt Nyttår (Norwegian)
メリークリスマスと新年あけましておめでとうございます (Japanese)
Vesel božič in srečno novo leto (Slovenian)
Crăciun fericit şi un an nou fericit (Romanian)
Feliz Navidad y un feliz año nuevo (Spanish)



Looking forward to see you in the New year.


Jochem Visser ( Dutch cheese, Boatspeed doctor......Cloggy)

The art of carving water

IRC Nationals XP 44 impressive

During the windy IRC nationals, organized by RORC on the Solent, the brand new XP 44 took the lead ahead of all the other production yachts and finished 4th overall.
On the first day of the regatta the Xp 44 even took the lead among the high ballast ratio's custom IRC racers but the remaining two windy days, with gusts up to 35 knots the 3 lighter custom Kerr boats took off downwind. She was impressive against the bigger, higher rated Grand Soleil 46 Antilope. Matching her speed in most conditions and beating her overall on handicap comfortably.

In more moderate conditions she seems to excel and point well upwind compared to her rivals. In the stronger conditions she was able to plane and excel downwind. She will be one to watch as the team sailing her is still learning to untap her full potential and more performance is definitely still to come.

Full results on RORC Website

Action pictures on Paul Wyeth website

On offer limited edition "Destructive art" by the artist formerly known as Teacher Tom

I thought I would give readers the first opportunity to make a bid on 3 pieces of art created by the infamous artist formerly known as Teacher Tom but better known as the “Grim Reaper of kites”

The artist has produced a stunning reflection of inner aggression by shredding nylon in tantalizing patterns. Each piece, approximately 170 m^2, will be signed by the artist and caries a watermark in one of the corners (if you can find that piece ) which has the letter N above a S, which we think stands for Not Salvageable.

Each piece has been appropriately named by the artist:

Lot number 1:

“A3 asymmetric reflection of anger in 1.2 ounce”

Statistics: 158 m^2 of nylon in more than 8 pieces. This piece was created on Saturday the 16/7/11 and the original piece only survived 2 min and 15 seconds in the hands of the artist, a new record.

Lot number 2:

“S4 small tears lead to bigger problems”

Statistics: 173 m^2 of 0.75 oz. nylon. This piece was created by the artist on 17/7/11. It was carefully ripped across and then up and down both leeches to be finished by removing at least one clew and head.

Lot number 3 :

“S2 extended range of anger”

Statistics: originally 173m^2 of 0.5 oz. nylon stretched to at least 180 m^2. This piece was created on 17/7/11 by using a new method. The artist took the range of this piece to a new level by flying it in a 38 knots gust. This piece might also interest people who are into 1000+ pieces of puzzle games.

I’m inviting offers on each piece. The artist has been highly productive and went in 48 hours through 516 m^2 of nylon. An average of 10.75 m^2 per hour even when he was asleep!!!

It’s a remarkable period in his career and each piece will bring a lifetime of memories.