Volvo Inspiration

Just re-watching some of the last volvo challenge and seeing some of the guys I used to knock around with in the the early days. Feel inspired now to get going and to do a bit more weather study. Need to really start driving some of the work on now as I want to get the boat ready for the season by early March.

Have been making sure the PC is up to date with tides and manuals etc.

Have ordered camaera mounts etc as now have some media interest so need to start collecting footage.

Waiting and poetry

Well the bits keep arriving and all I seem to be able to do is plan for the summer and keep asking various people if the jpbs they're doing are done yet. All in all I feel like a small child in the back seat saying "are we there yet" constantly.  I keep reading the mags and have got back into the gym but at some point I want to stop preparing and go sailing.

 If I close my eyes I can feel the night chill and the rythym of the boat or feel the warm sun on my bare feet and the wind at my back.  Anyway the business of earning the money to fund these dreams continues and Finn (my 5 year old) keeps drawing boats for Daddy. I may have to resort to a bit of diving to get some water back into my life but for now I guess its the sailing mags for me.

I have even had time to catch up on some poetry writing and will say Happy Christmas and leave you with one of my recent efforts.

"Purpose"


Night has come and waves fluoresce
And dance and jump as if to play
And push as she slips on and straight
With purpose, dignity and truth

An easy groove is what we want
As time is eaten, miles devoured
As dawn breathes warmth on frigid bones
And bacon sizzles in the pan

It’s simple here, no bleating voice
Disturbs the rhythm nature drums
And has since life and light was breathed
Across my belovéd sea

And I will teach my son to breathe
To sniff at freedom’s salty breath
And set his compass for the sun and moon
To steer towards the stars

Drogue and steering arrived

A very large box turned up from Scanmar - Haven't opened it yet but looks like we are all set for the emergency steering. Also the Drogue has arrived in Ireland so looks like progess.

Crew dinner booked at Tarbert

I just booked up Pascal's for the Thursday and Saturday nights at the Scottish Series. Bungle agreed it just seems like we were there  yesterday! I heard we might get a proper BBQ summer this year so here's hoping!

Drogue and Emergency steering on the way

Just found out that our series drogue is ready and should be winging its way
to Ireland. The emergency steering from Scanmar is also on its way but seems
to be stuck in customs clearing at the minute. We will probably wait until
we get Rainmaker to the Hamble to fit the rudder but will hopefully get a
chance to try the drogue out on the delivery/qualifier.

STIX and IRC

I was discussing our rating with the Rating Office and mentioned that we were doing the AZAB. They kindly told me that there is a requirement for them to have this info officially logged.  I attach their explainantion as it might help you if you also need to do this.  They mention a document whioch they sent to me but I guess the best course of action would be to contact them if you need this.

Extract from the email:

"Just one other point, in the NOR ( Rule 3) for the Azab 2011, to qualify you will need STIX / AVS data ( stability requirement). We don’t hold this information for the Finngulf 331 , but it will need to be on your certificate. To get this you will need to send the attached forms to the designer to will complete the appropriate form "

Emergency Steering

There is a requirement to have some form of emergency steering. Whilst we will have a Jordan Series drogue I have read many stories of rudderless yachts, particularly in the ARC, having great difficulty in steering and eventually even being abandoned. For these reasons I started looking into emergency steering and got talking to SCANMAR who were extreemly helpful.  As usual with Rainmaker nothing was available as standard but Scanmar altered the design and we have just placed an order.

I will post pictures in the Gallery when I get round to it.

Rainmaker Ireland Work

Rainmaker is now snugged up for the winter. The sails are off, ready to go to the sailmaker for alterations. We will also be fitting a new water tank to meet regs and adding a small “fence” to the rudder to help prevent stalling. We have also been discussing various ways of securing the locker tops for rough weather and the electrics are being given the once over. The Radar pole is off for modification to take the sat phone and the leg and engine will be serviced. So it all go and stop at the same time. Better keep writing those cheques!

 

 

 

New Boom and halyards

The new boom is nearly ready and should be on in a few weeks.  We had a Jon mast and boom but the Jon single line reefing system was dreadful and there was no third reef so we went for a Seldon boom with two single line reefs and a normal one so we have three reefs and a bullet proof one that can be used for any of the reefs.  We are also fitting a new fine trim as we have found this is essential to keep the boat on its feet upwind.

The halyards that were supplied were  not up to spec so these will also be replaced with top spec Dyneema.

 

 

 

Rainmaker move planned to the Hamble

Looking ahead to next season and trying to work out a decent programme of sailing together with fitting in the 2 handed delivery as an AZAB qualifier we have decided to bring Rainmaker over to the Hamble faily soon after the scottish series. This will enable final work on the rig, comms and sails to be completed together with a full programme of event and family sailing. Hopefully it will also give us some decent weather which has not been the case in Ireland and Scotland this summer.

Hi - this is the first post to our new blog which will hopefully track ou sailing experiences and , in particular our preparation for the AZAB 2011.