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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 29th October 2008
We are not having the weather we expected for October but it´s not all bad. The forecast for Sunday the 19th was not good but what did we have? A nice warm and sunny day, we needed a few more knots of wind, nevertheless, we all enjoyed our day on the water. Four of us in "Dos Amigos" sailed out of Garrucha to Vera Playa to meet up with Vic and Peter in his new "Dart 18", Jim and Gerard on the Hobie Cat. Also with us was the "420", I think Debbie was on the helm, it was going very well in the light wind.
The Catamarans have found a new home on Vera Playa, we now have the use of the Dinghy Park which is next to the San Bernabe Restaurant on the beach.
The ideal spot for our Catamaran Fleet would be on the North side of the new Harbour Wall which would give shelter from the Southerly Winds and room for a Club House and Catamaran Park; I have seen this same situation many times in Cataluña.
We are hoping there will be space for us on the new Garrucha Marina but there are no Guaranties! With the economic situation as it is, it could be a few years to the completion date. Not to worry, lets think " Positive", slowly building up the Membership, it was new member George who took the helm of "Dos Amigos" to bring us back to Garrucha on Sunday!
Back in U.K many Clubs are putting their boats away for the winter, while we can look forward to some warm sunny days and the Mediterranean to sail on. There are times when we need to be reminded "how lucky we are", here I am at the end of October, sitting in my patio, surrounded by boats, scribbling a few lines to you and hoping Houri is brewing the tea!
Time to bring you up to date, with news of the "Volvo Ocean Race"; after the start on October the 11th , few gaps opened up between the 8 Volvo 70´s as they raced towards the Straights of Gibraltar but there they came together due to the light winds. Once out into the Atlantic, they were off South to sail through or around the Canaries. Some chose to continue South while others took a more Westerly course. They all needed to go West at some time to pass through the "gate" at Fernando Island just off the coast of Brazil.
First through the "gate"was "Green Dragon" to collect 4 points; the date was the 23rd of Oct. 90 minutes later it was "Ericsson 4", 15 minutes after was "Puma", 30 minutes later was "Telefonica Black" with the other 4 boats not too far behind. They are now looking for the South Easterly Trade Winds to take them to Cape Town, their first stop.
The "24 hour" sailing record for this Race is 562.96 nautical miles, held by "Abn Amro 2" the winner of the last Volvo Race.
Important Club news, the A.G.M of The Santa Irene Club de Vela will be held on Monday the 1st of December, more info. Later.
Come and talk to us on Sundays, Vic and the Catamarans on Vera Playa; me and the Mono Hulls on the slipway at Garrucha.
Take care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail johntalliss@gmail.com
Sailing News Sol Times - 29th October 2008
Sunday morning the 26 of October, I had two forecasts which predicted force 6 winds and it looked like "Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane" so the 10 of us who met up at Garrucha slipway, retired to our local coffee bar " Rincon del Puerto"´to talk of boats and sailing. The previous week 19th Oct. it was light winds and sunshine, we all enjoyed the day. The mono hulls sailed out of Garrucha and turned North towards Vera Playa, where our Catamaran fleet were to meet up with us. They had launched from their new home, The Dinghy Park next to the San Bernabe Restaurant on Vera Playa. It all worked well but we needed a few more knots of wind. We hope in the future to set up some Handicap Racing for us all to enjoy.
I am not sure if enjoy is the right word to use for the Lads, sailing those Volvo Open 70`s as they battle there way across the Atlantic in South East Trade Winds towards Cape Town. I think "Batten Down the Hatches" is more appropriate. They are in wind speeds of 35 to 40 knots also 7 metres waves. I can understand Ian Walker skipper of Green Dragon, saying " this is insane" probably as the Spinnaker was torn apart. Already, there is a new 24 hr. Mono-hull record, set by Ericsson 4, its 589 nautical miles.
I can hardly believe it there is another " Round the World Ocean Race" taking place right now! Six, Open 40`s ( this is getting near my price ) left Portimáo Portugal on the 18th of Oct. to Cape Town the 1st leg of their 30.000 mile marathon. The British Boat is "Mowgli", the crew are David Thomson and Jeremy Salvesen, who, until 3 years ago was messing around with a Mirror Dinghy !
Lots more to tell you about this Race its more in our League.
Email me, phone me or meet me at Garrucha slipway Sunday morning for coffee.
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail johntalliss@gmail.com
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