AZAB 2003 - Post Script

Wrington sailor, Gary Clements, and his fellow crew member, Chris Knowlton, sailed in the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club's Azores & Back Race, winning their class overall. On his return, Gary jotted down some reflections which are accompanied by photographs he and Chris took.
Overall distance: 2,801 sea miles
Dart to Falmouth: 60 miles return
Fal to Ponta Delgada: 1,392
Ponta Delgada to Fal: 1,289

Distance to Azores as the crow flies: 1,220 miles

Best 24 hours: 143 miles

Worst: 42 miles

Average daily run: 106 miles

Speed average for boat: 5 knots

 

Top speed recorded: 13.4 knots
(the boat fell off a wave !)        

Greatest speed was with the spinnaker - normal speed 6-7 knots/surfing at 8/9 knots

 

Preparation for the race        

For us:
500 mile qualifying passage non-stop - we went to continental shelf & back, 550 miles, great trip in 2002        
One-day sea survival course - how to use a liferaft, &c - great fun !   

  
 For the boat:
Self-steering - most important item, worked fantastically. Purchase from USA
Wind charger        Solar panel
Inverter (to run computer)
Extra water tank
Extra bilge pump
Extra sails   
SSB radio receiver
for downloading weather onto the computer
(didn't work !)		  
   

 Satellite 'phone - hired for trip. Used first 2 weeks for downloading weather ... then Marian received a bill!

 

»