Quick summary of the life of MED SPIRIT over the past few months
Hello Med Spirit friends,
Here is a quick summary of the life of MED SPIRIT over the past few months.
After racing in the Juris Cup in Marseille and at “Les Voiles de St. Tropez”. MED SPIRIT left Marseille on 14th October 2011 for Malta to join the Middle Sea Race where a Franco-Russian crew took charge of the boat. A small race around the Island of Malta enabled us to get to know the yacht. Kouli quickly became familiar with MED SPIRIT as did the Russian team and yachtsmen.
The Middle Sea Race
MED SPIRIT leaves from Malta on 22nd October at midday. Although not a good start, it was not bad for a race of around 600 miles.
The passage through the Messina Straight between Sicily at Italy is always difficult with strong currents. MED SPIRIT went through close to the cost of Sicilia, ESIMIT and RAN went to the East to benefit from stronger winds. MED SPIRIT controlled the remaining part of the fleet (200 boats) and prevented “ALLEGRA” from overtaking from the East under the watchful eye of Etna from 3200m high who must have had a fun watching these boats go by under his nose.
The voyage around the Stromboli Volcano took place with variable wind, with a wonderful sunset on the Volcano itself. We are a racing crew but we know how to admire the beauty of the sea and indeed nature. After this, we passed round the tip of Sicily and down around Pantelleria with some strong winds.
Then MED SPIRIT got light winds around the island of Pozzo, north of the island of Malta. She arrived in Malta in 4th place at 19:00 pm on 25th October.
The Mediterranean delivered all kinds of winds for 600 miles, so the crew didn’t have time to get bored!
MED SPIRIT and her crew did well as over the 2 days, they sailed alongside ALLEGRE (one of the fastest boats out there at the moment) and her team, and not far back behind ESIMIT and RAN.
The sailing manoeuvres were made when necessary. The crew was courageous and determined, providing the perfect atmosphere. A well deserved dinner at the restaurant of at the Club Nautique brought the whole team together again and allowed us to celebrate our finish at the beautiful Middle Sea Race.
ARC Race
On 27th October MED SPIRIT left Malta for Marseille in order to prepare for the transatlantic ARC Race: Las Palmas / St Lucia. On October 30th she arrived in Marseille, began her preparation, food provisioning, etc. and left on 9th November.
A fast crossing with a stop in Casablanca, Morocco due to a depression creating unstable winds. We arrived in Las Palmas on 17th November and welcomed a new, friendly Russian crew to start the ARC Race from Las Palmas on 20th November 2011 with a nice shining sun. It’s always exciting to through yourself into a 2 700 miles journey even when you have crossed the Atlantic 7 or 8 times.
The crew showed great courage and composure to continue the race after the spinnaker pool broke , which fortunately did not result in any further damage. The conditions at the start of the race were not easy with very heavy swells and strong winds. The skippers, Laurent and Kouli are extremely professional and operate the boat brilliantly.
Initially, MED SPIRIT took a southerly route. On the first day, the North seemed a better option with the wind being a little stronger thus providing a little more speed for the boats that chose this route. Gradually, 3 boats emerge at the forefront of a fleet of 200, RAYON VERT (a trimaran), ROTHMANS and MED SPIRIT. The southerly route starts to pay off. However, MED SPIRIT is handicapped, as it cannot take full advantage of the wind due to its broken spinnaker pool which forced her to sail a longer distance downwind. The positions stabilise and after 8 days in the middle of nowhere MED SPIRIT went in a few miles in front of ROTHMAN at night.
The last days of racing are high drama. MED SPIRIT is in front followed by RAYON about 10 miles behind, then by ROTHMAN 60 miles behind. The skippers on board of MED SPIRIT have the intelligence to put their boat between RAYON VERT and the finish line for a few days. Easier said than done.
At is a victory, congratulations to Franco-Russian crew in difficult conditions and after serious damage to the boat, fortunately without consequence, they did not give up and we got the victory. The MED SPIRIT crew sportingly waited for the arrival of RAYON VERT for two hours to applaud them after 11 days of racing!
MED SPIRIT is now staying in the port at Le Marin, Martinique recovering from her war wounds of the ARC Race.
We have ordered two new jibs (J2 and J4) to be delivered in to Martinique in January. The water maker works and we have installed a shower allowing us to wash more comfortably than on deck with sea water.
A tender boat will allow us to drink some “punch” when we are at anchor in the Caribbean.
After these great adventures we will continue with the following program:
19th – 25th February 2012
RORC Race – 600 miles – Antigua
With a Russian team
1st – 4th March 2012
Heineken Regatta in St. Martin
4th – 7th April 2012
Les Voiles de St. Barth
29th April – 4th May 2012
Antigua Sailing Week
New Port and Bermuda – we do not know yet
June 2012 – New York / Cap Lizard – Team of Russians
21st – 28th July
Commodore Gill Week at Cowes, Isle of Wight
We would be delighted to welcome you on board on MED SPIRIT.
Didier Lacombe