Crew member on GBR222 Aviva |
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Blogs 2009
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And it's all over Red Rover! The 2009 Rolex Fastnet race has ended 68 hours after it began for allonboard Aviva. We had a great race with the front of the fleet being closetogether for the entire race. The lead in the IMOCA Open 60 class changedregularly and scattered amongst us were the mini maxi yachts of classSuper 0. Within eye sight of each other the first five Open 60's rounded theFastnet Rock at breakfast time yesterday. Artemis 2 led followed by BT,Pindar, Safran and then ourselves. Spinnakers were hoisted and we returnedto the English Channel in smooth downwind sailing conditions. Although welost sight of the other IMOCA 60's we remained in view of Luna Rossa andRosebud.Continuous gybing saw us round the Scilly Isles and the Lizard headlandmaking tactical gains on the two other boats. We were unable to catch theother IMOCA Open 60's but we did finish within a few hours of each otherand ahead of the two other Super 0 yachts that we had sailed with sincethe Fastnet Rock. Breakfast off Plymouth breakwater saw a happy and relaxed crew onboardAviva. It was wonderful to sail with the boat team onboard as normallythey do all the work and preparation and don't get to enjoy the sailing. Ienjoyed their company and we all took pleasure in having Brian Thompsononboard with us. A wealth of knowledge, his calm manner made some goodtactical decisions and helped keep us on the pace to finish in amongst theleading pack. Congratulations to BT that sailed an excellent race, two handed inpreparation for his race this winter, the Transat Jacques Vabre race fromLe Havre, France to Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.We are now heading home bathed in sunshine with the spinnaker still up andafternoon tea being enjoyed. Everyone is smiling as tonight we will sleepin our own beds! Dee and Team
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