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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 14th January 2009
Feliz Año Nuevo. First, I want to say a Big Thank You to the Founding Fathers who have been with us since the beginning of 2003, when first Victor arrived with his Dart Catamaran, George, a Hobie Cat. Sailor having seen us sailing bought a new Hobie 16, then Frank arrived, a GP14 sailor, with a Classic yacht back in Cowes, I of W. Within a few weeks, we had a Trio of experienced Dinghy and Catamarans sailors. To add sea miles to the Club, Terry signed on as a Club Member. As a young man, he had sailed the Oceans of the World in a Tramp Steamer or should I say a Tramp cargo vessel. Not trading regularly between fixed ports but taking cargo wherever obtainable and delivering them any where in the World. I wonder if that trade goes on today. May the Quartet enjoy many more years sailing whenever and wherever they can.
On our first sailing day of the new year, Sunday the 4th of January, it was not a good forecast never the less 15 of us arrived at the slipway Garrucha and eventually took to the water. Paul was first, sailing his Laser 4000, a racing Dinghy single handed. I along with a crew of 4 took out the Drascombe " Dos Amigos" pity we didn´t take some hot coffee with us. Had Terry been on board , he would have been brewing-up as we left the Harbour. Last Sunday the 11th it was "raining again" we all adjourned the local coffee bar.
In the Vendee Globe Round the World single handed Race, it´s described as the "Everest of Sailing". the leading boats have rounded Cape Horne and are back in the Atlantic about 350 miles off the Brazilian Coast. Over the years, The Race has been dominated by the French, of the 30 Skippers half of them are French. The only 2 ladies in the Race are British, Samantha Davies sailing "Roxy" and Dee Caffari sailing "Aviva". At the time of writing, Samantha is in 4th place and Dee is 8th . By the time you read this, the leading two boats could have finished, the Skippers are Jourdain Roland and Desjoyeaux Michel, both French.
A note for the Teenagers, click into this Website: www.sailmike.com. A 16 year old, who is sailing around the World single handed, it will be a new sailing record. Having had problems with his Autopilot he stopped off at Las Palmas in the Canary Island for repairs. He is now sailing South through the Cape Verde Islands and he is now off the coast of Brazil. Who knows, he may meet up with the Vendee Globe Yachts sailing North. One record he will have is the youngest single handed sailor to cross the Equator. If You a teenager want to sail, come and talk to us.
Hope to see you on Garrucha slipway, Sunday at 11am for a chat and coffee.
Take care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail johntalliss@gmail.com
Sailing News Sol Times - 14th January 2009
Cold but sunny occasionally, temperature some times in the 20´s. So what´s the problem with our Sailing Day, the past couple of Sundays it´s been cold, raining and cloudy. We did venture out one Sunday for an hour but the thought of a Hot coffee in our local Bar was more inviting.
However, we have a New Year to look forward too, the shortest day has past ( my Birthday) thanks for your cards.
On the other side of the World, there is a lot going on. In Singapore, the Volvo Open 70´s World Race which started from Alicante have been enjoying the Sun, it rises at 7.15 and sets 12 hours later. They have a shock awaiting them as they leave Singapore on the 18th of January for the next stop over at Qingado, China. The temperature will plummet, nights will get longer.
In the Clipper Race last year, the crews faced freezing wind and snow on the decks.
In the "Vendee Globe Race", single-handed , non stop around the World, half the fleet of 30 boats have rounded Cape Horne and are back in the Atlantic. The leading boats are sailing North, 350miles of the Coast of Brazil. 3 French skippers are in the lead but our Samantha Davis is 4th, some way behind them, the leaders still have to go through the Doldrums, so who knows. Our other lady racer, Caffari Dee is in 8th place. The Vendee is the Race which put Helen MacArthur, Centre Stage.
The 3rd Global Race started from Porttimao, Portugal. The 40 ft Yachts in this Race, you could afford. "Mowgl" is the British Yacht with Jeremy Savesen and David Thomson, skipper and co skipper, David Thomson was a Mirror Dinghy Sailor 3 years ago! The next Port of Call is Wellington in New Zealand, they will arrived this week.
If you are interested in sailing, you can find me on the slipway, Garrucha 11am Sunday morning, I look forward to see you for a chat and coffee.
Take care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail johntalliss@gmail.com
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