Blogs

Testing the spacious interior... Ntombifuti receives a social area, where I can...

Testing the spacious interior... Ntombifuti receives a social area, where I can sit until somebody serves the meal.

Ntombifuti and her intrepid skipper got portrayed in Yachting Monthly.

Ntombifuti and her intrepid skipper got portrayed in Yachting Monthly.

For everybody who suspects something different (shame on those): My boat always...

For everybody who suspects something different (shame on those): My boat always looks so tidy and clean... what else?

Now the creative part starts..

Now the creative part starts..

Ntombifuti's hullThe design work makes progress

Ntombifuti gets refurnished, and we start pretty much from scratch, as you can see.

Ntombifuti gets refurnished, and we start pretty much from scratch, as you can see.

Without mast even closer to a stealth boat.

Without mast even closer to a stealth boat.

WAT GAAN WE DOEN IN 2012 ?

Video midden op de Oceaan. 150 mijl van de Azoren. Truant, een andere deelnemer in de Azab, maakte de video. Ziet er heel relaxed uit, maar de werkelijkheid is dat eerst Truant zijn gennaker in het water kreeg bij het strijken. Gelukkig zonder scheuren weer aan boord. Vlak daarna knalde bij mij een blok eruit van de gennaker tackline. Ik moest dus ook strijken. We hebben toen maar van elkaar wat video beelden gemaakt. Gelukkig kon ik de tackline via andere blokken laten lopen en daarna kon het zeil weer omhoog. Inmiddels is voor mij het zeilseizoen afgelopen. Boot op de kant voor onderhoud.

Slightly revamped website.

Slightly revamped website.RALPH VILLIGER * * * NTOMBIFUTIralph.avance.ch

I have just been announced as competitor #1 in the Round Rockall Race. Now I jus...

I have just been announced as competitor #1 in the Round Rockall Race. Now I just have to stay ahead of all others until the finish line.

Yesterday at an Arved Fuchs talk I got ideas about cruising destinations in Irel...

Yesterday at an Arved Fuchs talk I got ideas about cruising destinations in Ireland and Scotland (2012) and Canada and Greenland (2013).

Recently some Belgians landed on Rockall and broadcasted from there (a much soug...

Recently some Belgians landed on Rockall and broadcasted from there (a much sought-after place for radio amateurs). That's why another radio expedition to Rockall, which was originally planned for June 2012, has now been postponed. Apparently, Rockall has just become less attractive for radio amateurs after the recent landfall of the Belgians. Nevertheless, in June 2012 an Admiral of the Swiss Navy will have a look whether all is in order on Rockall. But probably the rock will be uninhabited and the Admiral won't get military honours.

This is the track of the Round Rockall Race 2012.

This is the track of the Round Rockall Race 2012.

And that's what Rockall looks like.

And that's what Rockall looks like.

#Ntombifuti has just registered for the #RoundRockallRace next June, starting in...

#Ntombifuti has just registered for the #RoundRockallRace next June, starting in Galway, Ireland, to #Rockall and back.

Safran

In Trinite sur Mer ligt Safran mooi te zijn aan de steiger. Wat Marc Guillemot allemaal heeft meegemaakt op die boot in enorm. Ik kijk mijn ogen uit naar al die mooie details op het dek.

Figaro

In Caen wordt de komst van de Figaro vloot aangekondigd door billboards overal in de stad. Dat is het betere werk!

TERUG IN LELYSTAD

Van Brighton naar Dover was het vooral een kwestie van zonnebrand paraat houden. Dover IJmuiden idem dito. En dan ben je opeens weer gewoon op het IJsselmeer. Bootje in de box, oude Renaultje start zowaar zonder haperen. Weer thuis en meteen weer aan het werk. Wat een geweldige race was dit. Zojuist heb ik foto's van de Azab, inclusief voorbereidingen geplaatst.

Sailing into the night.

Sailing into the night.Jul 11, 2011 4:50am

In total NTOMBIFUTI has sailed 2,566 nm at an average speed of 6.4 kn in the AZA...

In total NTOMBIFUTI has sailed 2,566 nm at an average speed of 6.4 kn in the AZAB 2011. This is about 300 nm more than the direct route.

Analysis of return leg. In total 1,237 nm at an average speed of 6.8 kn.

Analysis of return leg. In total 1,237 nm at an average speed of 6.8 kn.

Analysis of outward leg. In total 1,329 nm at an average speed of 6.1 kn.

Analysis of outward leg. In total 1,329 nm at an average speed of 6.1 kn.