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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 4th October 2007
This is your sailing correspondent writing to you from the English Midlands, Halesowen – remember Marline?
I arrived here via Almera – Stanstead – then Express coach to Birmingham. My thanks to Robin and Ann who organised the tickets, it went like clockwork.
Now the sailing on the last Sunday of September from the Playa of San Juan de los Terreros sounds as though it was very good. With Vic, Jim, Peter and joining them Sailboard Roger sailing on the Catamaran! Perhaps we should persuade him to join the cat fleet. I´ll remind him we have a “Patin” Cat – it´s much like a sailboard with no rudder, only you don’t fall off so often. Also trying his hand at Cat Sailing was Andrew from the “Outward Bound” school in Cornwall. John and Elaine were there with their jet ski as was Marinanne and Brian in their new luxury speed boat. I bet it didn’t take long to travel from the slipway at Garrucha to San Juan. Nice to know all the water sports are getting together, if you want to get on the water come and join us. Sorry I daren’t mention Gerrard from Holland, he was there too, we are very international.
I hear there is a sail boarding fiesta, not regatta, which I assume means a lot more fun. The dates are 13th & 14th October on the Mar Menor at or near Alcazores. The info came from Victor - check it out, he sent me up to Alcazores to a ´Cat´meeting that was in Alicante! Well they both stat with AL – say no more. Except we still love him,
Staying in Spain, the next big event is the “Barcelona World Race” two crew non-stop, around the world.
Well they don´t get much bigger than that, the boats are Open 60´s – why open? They have a top on but they are 60ft long. The last time I spoke to Ellen I am sure she said the start from Barcelona was on 4th November. I remember thinking the day before bonfire night. Ellen is not taking part, she is one of the organisers. There are eight boats with the crews made up of eight French, three Spanish, one Aussie, one Swiss, one Irish, one American, one Brit, Alex Thompson Skipper of “Hugo Boss” with Andrew Cape the Aussie as Co-Skipper. The Spanish boats are “Estrella Dam” and Mutua Madrilena”. The route takes them via Gibraltar, Cape of Good Hope, the Roaring Forties, Cape Horn, back to Gibraltar and Barcelona. A distance of over 25,000 miles or 46,300 kms. I´ll be keeping you up-to-date with their progress.
I told you of our success at the Pre-Olympics. Five gold and one silver medal at Quingdao China. The Manager of the team, Stephen Park (Sparky) reminds us there is a fine line between winning and losing. The problem is the winds and waters of this area! Three days were lost due to little or no wind and a current of 2.8 knots, raising questions over next years Olympic racing and medals.
Where should you be looking to see what Garrucha´s “New Marina” is going to look like? Our website of course, click on the photo gallery – sorry I´m on there too! Hope to be back with you soon, it´s raining here. In the meantime talk to the lads and lasses on Garrucha slip or at San Juan on Sunday mornings.
Take Care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail John@Sailrway.com
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