Rainmaker Sailing

going back in the water at last yipee!

2011-03-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

Emergency Rudder fitting

2011-03-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Re-fit is progressing. Even though we can't do the AZAB we are continuing to bring the boat up to ISAF Cat 1. WE had an emergency rudder designed and built and it is being fitted at the minute.

AZAB Withdrawal

2011-01-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

Unfortuately work pressures for both myself anf Lumpy mean that taking 6-8 weeks out for the AZAB isn't going to work so, unfortunately, we have withdrawn. We are continuing to make the boat cat 1 so we can come back strong another time. The only difference is that we will take the watermaker off as the hull had not yet been drilled. It will live in the garage until we are ready for it.

On the plus side we will be going up to the Scottish series and hope to take part in Pylmoth week and poss little britain.

Thanks to everyone for their support.

Cheers
Dave

All Out !

2010-10-06T00:59:00.000-07:00

Boat and Rig are now out and work is steaming away full pelt on fitting Cat 1 gear as well as watermaker, Sat mast etc. Long list of stuff to do.

AZAB Hotels

2010-09-16T03:17:00.000-07:00

They have now removed the limit on the number of competitors for the AZAB so I booked up some hotels. Not much availability left - looks like it should be pretty popular!!

Time to mend

2010-09-16T03:16:00.000-07:00

Rainmaker is back in her berth but now the hard work starts for the AZAB. We also pulled the top off the genoa and smashed the deck light on our last outing so need to get those sorted as well.

Silicon Cup Results

2010-09-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

A set of results has now been published but I have no idea how these were arrived at; given the circumstances. For what it's worth we seem to have come fouth in class.

Silicon Cup Fiasco

2010-09-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

I would like to be able to let you know how we did but ssince no results are available I'm afraid I can't do that. The racing on the first day was good fun and we had the ususal amount of merriment on Rainmaker but the organisers made an extreemly strange and illegal change to the Sailing Instructions on the final day (not allowing spinnakers in all classes even though there was a white sails class provided) that the racing tuned into a farce. I'm still not sure how they had a prize giving without any results - very strange indeed. We won't be back.

Silicon cup

2010-09-08T03:52:00.001-07:00

Ok to just off to do battle at the silicon cup. We have a great bunch of guys on board and plenty of local knowledge so let's hope we have a good one.

Round the Island Video

2010-06-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hi all - the Round the Island Video is now posted - http://www.rainmakersailing.com/page80aaaa.html

Round the Island

2010-06-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

A successful round the island. We came 10th in a class of 54 and 85th out of about 550. We all had a great time - the craic was 90 and we beat the people we wanted to beat ...... you know who you are!!
Have taken more video and will post it up as soon as I get a chance to edit.

Rainmaker press coverage

2010-06-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Press interest remains strong. We were recently featured on NEWSLINE on BBC
Northern Ireland and the County Down Spectator has published a piece on our
AZAB preparations and Round the Island entry. The BBC is also still
interested in following our progress and we hope to have more video footage
available shortly.

Video of Rainmaker at the Scottish Series

2010-06-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

Just posted the compilation video of our exploits at the Scottish Series.
The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ADvPMpaXo
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ADvPMpaXo&layer_token=15b99e1b32866fe1>
&layer_token=15b99e1b32866fe1

Weather Mark fun

2010-06-06T03:40:00.001-07:00

Short video of Tiggs , our tactician for the Scottish Series, explaining the
rules at the weather mark to one of our competitors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyx23SCepNw

Home at last

2010-06-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

The boat is tied up in the hamble and a shower and good nights sleep has been had. Fantastic to see Grainne and Finn again!! After being the only yacht around for a while the Solent looked a bit like boat soup!! Now to prepare for the round the Island race.

Coming up to Poole

2010-06-05T01:04:00.000-07:00

Just coming up to Poole and pointing for the needles - looking like we should be in late aftn. Whoopee !! Lumpy is then off testing sails on a J - glutton for punishment!

Qualifying distance

2010-06-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Just passed the 500 mile mark so have completed the qualifying distance for azab - yipee!

Start point

2010-06-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Just coming up to Start Point and slipping along nicely. Once we' re round its a straight run to the needles. The sun is setting and I'm looking forward to home and seeing Grainne and Finn. Lumpys off watch and thermals are on.

Bacon

2010-06-04T04:59:00.000-07:00

Lumpy has successfully cooked bacon without burning the boat! .........close call though

sunrise and sunset

2010-06-04T04:35:00.000-07:00

We are just passed Falmouth and finally got a gsm signal. Light winds so quite frustrating but making good progress. Thought I’d include a sun up sun down sequence in celebration of an underwear change. We are wondering if Findus frozen lasagne counts as one of our 5 a day !! Lumpy threatening to cook bacon !!

Approaching lizard

2010-06-03T23:04:00.000-07:00

Winds annoyingly light about ten miles from the lizard. Some great sunsets and quite a few dolphins so that was good. Will be over 600 miles when we finish which looks like saturday night or sunday morning so it into the hamble in the dark again.

Heading Back from Tarbert

2010-06-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Heading back at the minute and thought I would include a pic of the traffic around Dublin. Thank goodness for AIS !

Scottish series results

2010-05-31T13:13:00.000-07:00

Rainmaker came in 7th overall in a fleet of 20 with one 2nd and a third. We really seem to have the boat going now but we need 10 knots at least. We leave tomorrow for the Hamble.

Scottish series update

2010-05-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

Results so far :
6th,15th,3rd and 7th - lying 6th overall and only one crew hospitalised!

Scottish weather

2010-05-28T05:13:00.000-07:00

Hail stones and sun and rain and no wind and lots of wind - another scottish series

Arrived in Tarbert

2010-05-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

After a cold delivery we are now installed in Tarbert for the scottish series. It has stopped raining and the sun has actually poked its head out - I hope the forcast for snow doesn't materialise!

On route to Tarbert

2010-05-26T04:35:00.000-07:00

Currently in the north channel on our way to Tarbert - 25 knots right on the nose, typical !!

14-16 May - Ireland Trip

2010-05-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Drove up to Stranraer and took the ferry over to Belfast where I roped my brother in to help. We loaded up all the extraneous gear into the truck as well as the following jobs:

* Fittted new wheel
* Re-led the clew outhaul (one had been fitted which was too short. - Lots of frustrating mousing and messing about with a torch up the boom!!)
* Re positioned the Vang Strut on the new boom
* Put the sails on - incl new headsail
* Put stack pack on
* Fitted new purchase on Back Stay
* Replaced radar pole and unit
* Took a load of stuff off
and a load of other stuff!!

Rainmaker to make TV debut

2010-04-21T09:25:00.001-07:00

I am happy to be able to confirm that the BBC in Northern Ireland will begin following our exploits in our preparation for the AZAB next year. Some initial filming will begin in May with sporadic updates througout the year and especially during the race itself. Obvioulsy we will have to talk to the rating office as I believe television puts pounds on you !! Maybe we an get the rating down.

Update

2010-04-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

We have now cleaned the boat up and removed the deadly green slime. Still lots to do with the sails coming back from Owen Sails in Scotland and lots of new bits and pieces to screw back on. Whilst we were in Ireland we spent a delightful night on the boat and I can report that Finn really enjoyed his cabin , sleeping till 08:40! which I have to say is pretty fab.

Furler

2010-04-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Nial from Irish Spars and Rigging has done a fab job and we are back in business with the furler. Working in conjunction with Brian Hannah all appears to be well althouh I think Nial is a little too well aquainted with the anchor Locker. Thanks also to Steve Bruce fro Special Boat Services who liaised with seldon inthe UK to get a resolution.

Furlex

2010-03-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

HMMM, it seems that the electric Furlex is drawing 40Amps with no load when it actually decides to work! Irish Spars are on the case and we hope for a speedy resolution. There’s always something! Currently working on getting the radar pole back and various other chickens herded so we can do some sailing quite soon!

Blast from the past

2010-02-26T10:32:00.000-08:00

I was just contacted by an old mate I used to sail with on the Maxi Helizara up in Soctland back in my late teens/early twenties. It was great to hear from Rod again and he kindly attached an old picture of me.

Who was that handsome bloke!

Rainmaker out of the water

2010-01-31T10:29:00.001-08:00

Rainmaker is now out of the water at Carrick Marine Services having a few
bits and pieces done. The engine and saildrive has been serviced and a leaky
anti-siphon valve replaced. The rudder is having a small "fence" fitted to
help prevent stalling and a second water tank to meet ISAF cat 1 is being
installed. The anodes will be changed and the leg antifouled.

The electrics are being examined as a small voltage drop was detected at
the plotter which caused it to reboot occasionally under low engine revs. We
are also fitting an isolator to one of the batteries to provide a completely
separate backup and an isolator to the fusion sound system to allow reboot
(the unit had a software jam last season which meant we had to disconnect it
to reboot).

The hull will also be cleaned and polished.

Then its sails back, fit the satellite phone and re-rate.

Tarbert looms

2010-01-14T08:54:00.001-08:00

Just confirmed the booking at the Tarbert and Oily Frigate - can't wait

Water Calcs

2010-01-12T04:04:00.000-08:00

Just chattting to Lumpy and he mentioned whether I had considered a watermaker. At first I thought this was a bit OTT on a 33 footer but when you do the calculations it starts to make some sense. If we carry 2l each drinking water a day and fill the tanks we probably end up with c130l of water which is 130KG we don't need. The watermaker is roughly 25KG so its starts to make sense. It also means we can use dehydrated food if needed. We have plenty of Battery power so I gues it depends on whether funds are available or not. Currently looking at Spectra racing 150. Might get a good price at the boat show.

Volvo Inspiration

2009-12-29T04:22:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-16T03:31:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-12T00:43:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-10T01:56:00.001-08:00

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

2009-11-19T02:18:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-19T02:12:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-01T12:50:00.001-08:00

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

2009-10-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-15T14:31:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-10-15T11:56:00.001-07:00

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.