Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Results Are Not Always Everything.Myth of Malham Race Report
We are now well into our training and preparations for the Madeira Race which starts on 11th August. The Madeira race is 1400 miles of ocean sailing that will really put Puma Logic the team and through their paces. We have just completed the 3rd offshore race of the season and what a race it was! The forecast promised us a lively race and we were not disappointed with boat speeds of 18 knots and some of the most exciting sailing I have done in a long time.
The Madeira race is not just about yacht racing; it is about teamwork, camaraderie, friendships, adventure, fun and great sailing. Our little micro world for four weeks will consist of ten people in a confined space (Puma is just 11 metres long) living together and supporting each other whilst racing hard and continually pushing both themselves and Puma hard within the boundaries of safety and realms of sanity.
Our first weekend of training was met with a certain amount of apprehension as the new team aboard Puma gathered to meet for the first time. Some of the team have raced offshore with me on puma before, some have raced inshore, some have never been sailing with me and only know me by reputation. Several hours was spent in the classroom discussing the campaign and establishing what was important to us as team. We came up with a set of ‘team values’ which have now been printed and placed in various places on Puma to remind ourselves of what we felt was important to us on that 1st meeting.
What has struck me as different with this team compared to the teams of the past two years is that we quickly established that ‘winning’ was not the underlying and primary reason for being aboard Puma for the Madeira race. This is the inaugural race and is a very long race. It is as much an adventure as a race and to that end the dynamics of this year’s team are different. We are participating to be a part of a fantastic journey, an adventure with an eagerness to learn and bond well as a team.
Therefore the training approach, both sailing and intellectually, is very different to the past two seasons. Ultimately good results will be the reward of the tight bond, high morale, grit and determination, a desire to learn and improve and overall development of individual skills throughout the experience.
We started the Eddystone race with a certain amount of trepidation. The previous weekends Channel race was tough with many lessons learnt; during the 40 mile beat in a bitterly cold Easterly 20 knot plus wind and pitch blackness the team was granted a baptism of fire by King Neptune. It was one of the least pleasant races I have sailed in a long time. For the Eddystone race we hoped to address many of the small issues about living aboard that had been identified the previous weekend.
At the end of the Channel race we all drew our emotions curve as there were several highs combined with big lows throughout the race. This was an important exercise to initiate a conversation and honest appraisal of what each individual had endured. It clearly identified that the lows were not unique to each person; indeed generally they came at similar times for similar reasons. The exercise allowed us to learn about each others feelings, limitations and personalites.
The forecast for the Eddystone Race gave us mixed messages and emotions. Whilst the 35 knot NE forecast was going to provide us with a fast and exciting down wind ride to Eddystone the thought of turning around and heading home banging back into the same was far from appealing. It would be both punishing and gruelling on both Puma and the team.
The forecast was absolutely spot on as we enjoyed the most exhilarating ride to Eddystone Light. With the heavy ‘A’ sail up we were fully powered up enjoying a multi orgasmic ride (well I was anyway)! with speeds regularly hitting 16 and 17 knots. The team work was superb and everyone was putting in 110%. As the wind rose above 30 knots we changed down to the jib top and were rewarded with a stunning broad reach hunting down British Soldier and Mostly Harmless who were just under two miles ahead. Our top boat speed peaked at 18.4 knots.
Then came the hard bit; swapping the jib top for the number 3 jib in preparation for the dreaded up wind battle again 30 knots plus of wind. The beat was everything we expected; unpleasant, cold and wet. However we were all on a high experiencing an emotional buzz that cannot really be explained. I was loving sailing with every single member of the team and was in awe of how far they have come in such a short period of time. The determination, the willingness to push themselves and the desire to be part of something special is fantastic. Above all else what is impressing me most is the way the team has bonded so quickly and well, how they support each other with such passion and thoughtfulness. They have embraced the ‘team values’ that we established on the 1st weekend and are taking them to heart.
As daylight was breaking I was sat at the wheel thinking to myself ‘for the 1st time in several years I am not fussed about the result of an offshore race. What I am experiencing on this race is far more special than that. I have absolutely loved the sailing, more than in a long time. The teamwork, humour and camaraderie that is developing so quickly is what is important to me and I am so proud to be out here with this team doing something so great.’
Our race back to the Solent was interrupted as Fair Do’s, a fellow competing yacht put out a Pan Pan call. Brixham Coastguard took control of the situation and asked us to divert to standby the troubled yacht until the lifeboat arrived. Obviously we did not think twice about diverting and sacrificing our good position to offer support to another vessel. As it turned out, no assistance was required as Fair Do’s plugged the hole and was able to safely make it to Brixham under their own steam. We have put in a request for redress to the race committee and will hopefully be compensated for the time lost.
At the end of the race we looked at the team slogan ‘To Finish Fast Safe and Happy.’ Every single person on board felt we had achieved that and in style. Eighteen knots is very fast, we did not stop laughing throughout the race and we broke nothing in very testing condition (apart from the heads seat and Dave’s boots). We also supported another boat that was potentially in distress. At the end of this weekend there was no need for emotion curves or similar exercise, what is the point when the race has been such a big high for everyone. This is what offshore racing is about and this team is going far.
We are now well into our training and preparations for the Madeira Race which starts on 11th August. The Madeira race is 1400 miles of ocean sailing that will really put Puma Logic the team and through their paces. We have just completed the 3rd offshore race of the season and what a race it was! The forecast promised us a lively race and we were not disappointed with boat speeds of 18 knots and some of the most exciting sailing I have done in a long time.
The Madeira race is not just about yacht racing; it is about teamwork, camaraderie, friendships, adventure, fun and great sailing. Our little micro world for four weeks will consist of ten people in a confined space (Puma is just 11 metres long) living together and supporting each other whilst racing hard and continually pushing both themselves and Puma hard within the boundaries of safety and realms of sanity.
Our first weekend of training was met with a certain amount of apprehension as the new team aboard Puma gathered to meet for the first time. Some of the team have raced offshore with me on puma before, some have raced inshore, some have never been sailing with me and only know me by reputation. Several hours was spent in the classroom discussing the campaign and establishing what was important to us as team. We came up with a set of ‘team values’ which have now been printed and placed in various places on Puma to remind ourselves of what we felt was important to us on that 1st meeting.
What has struck me as different with this team compared to the teams of the past two years is that we quickly established that ‘winning’ was not the underlying and primary reason for being aboard Puma for the Madeira race. This is the inaugural race and is a very long race. It is as much an adventure as a race and to that end the dynamics of this year’s team are different. We are participating to be a part of a fantastic journey, an adventure with an eagerness to learn and bond well as a team.
Therefore the training approach, both sailing and intellectually, is very different to the past two seasons. Ultimately good results will be the reward of the tight bond, high morale, grit and determination, a desire to learn and improve and overall development of individual skills throughout the experience.
We started the Eddystone race with a certain amount of trepidation. The previous weekends Channel race was tough with many lessons learnt; during the 40 mile beat in a bitterly cold Easterly 20 knot plus wind and pitch blackness the team was granted a baptism of fire by King Neptune. It was one of the least pleasant races I have sailed in a long time. For the Eddystone race we hoped to address many of the small issues about living aboard that had been identified the previous weekend.
At the end of the Channel race we all drew our emotions curve as there were several highs combined with big lows throughout the race. This was an important exercise to initiate a conversation and honest appraisal of what each individual had endured. It clearly identified that the lows were not unique to each person; indeed generally they came at similar times for similar reasons. The exercise allowed us to learn about each others feelings, limitations and personalites.
The forecast for the Eddystone Race gave us mixed messages and emotions. Whilst the 35 knot NE forecast was going to provide us with a fast and exciting down wind ride to Eddystone the thought of turning around and heading home banging back into the same was far from appealing. It would be both punishing and gruelling on both Puma and the team.
The forecast was absolutely spot on as we enjoyed the most exhilarating ride to Eddystone Light. With the heavy ‘A’ sail up we were fully powered up enjoying a multi orgasmic ride (well I was anyway)! with speeds regularly hitting 16 and 17 knots. The team work was superb and everyone was putting in 110%. As the wind rose above 30 knots we changed down to the jib top and were rewarded with a stunning broad reach hunting down British Soldier and Mostly Harmless who were just under two miles ahead. Our top boat speed peaked at 18.4 knots.
Then came the hard bit; swapping the jib top for the number 3 jib in preparation for the dreaded up wind battle again 30 knots plus of wind. The beat was everything we expected; unpleasant, cold and wet. However we were all on a high experiencing an emotional buzz that cannot really be explained. I was loving sailing with every single member of the team and was in awe of how far they have come in such a short period of time. The determination, the willingness to push themselves and the desire to be part of something special is fantastic. Above all else what is impressing me most is the way the team has bonded so quickly and well, how they support each other with such passion and thoughtfulness. They have embraced the ‘team values’ that we established on the 1st weekend and are taking them to heart.
As daylight was breaking I was sat at the wheel thinking to myself ‘for the 1st time in several years I am not fussed about the result of an offshore race. What I am experiencing on this race is far more special than that. I have absolutely loved the sailing, more than in a long time. The teamwork, humour and camaraderie that is developing so quickly is what is important to me and I am so proud to be out here with this team doing something so great.’
Our race back to the Solent was interrupted as Fair Do’s, a fellow competing yacht put out a Pan Pan call. Brixham Coastguard took control of the situation and asked us to divert to standby the troubled yacht until the lifeboat arrived. Obviously we did not think twice about diverting and sacrificing our good position to offer support to another vessel. As it turned out, no assistance was required as Fair Do’s plugged the hole and was able to safely make it to Brixham under their own steam. We have put in a request for redress to the race committee and will hopefully be compensated for the time lost.
At the end of the race we looked at the team slogan ‘To Finish Fast Safe and Happy.’ Every single person on board felt we had achieved that and in style. Eighteen knots is very fast, we did not stop laughing throughout the race and we broke nothing in very testing condition (apart from the heads seat and Dave’s boots). We also supported another boat that was potentially in distress. At the end of this weekend there was no need for emotion curves or similar exercise, what is the point when the race has been such a big high for everyone. This is what offshore racing is about and this team is going far.
Oh yes, I nearly forgot to mention; we are now placed 2nd in Class 1 of the RORC Championships and 6th overall!
posted by Sailing Logic at 1:13 PM
