Sailing an Extreme 40 in London!
- Posted on 23rd July, 08
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Yesterday, myself and my BT Team Ellen teammate Nick Moloney were pitted against 3 other teams from the iShares Cup, the Extreme 40 sailing circuit. The challenge was who could be fastest across the same course in the same boat.
It’s not every day that you can do that in London with a 40 foot Extreme 40 catamaran and it was great sailing on the Thames, it was sunny and there was a fantastic breeze blowing. We finished third in the end with a time of 9 minutes 57 seconds, we thought we were going to be second until the last boat pipped us to the post! The winners Pete Cumming and Chris Draper on Oman Sail came first with a time of 9 minutes 14 seconds. No excuses, but we had the first run of the day which can affect your time as you are negotiating the course first and showing everyone else where to go!
We started out from Greenwich Yacht Club, a great club with a really friendly atmosphere. The course went from there upwind to a pier off the O2 Arena then back downwind. You could see all the tall buildings in the City and the top end of the race course was right next to the O2 Arena so made it a bit tricky wind-wise.
It is not the easiest stretch of water to sail as there is lots of shipping around. It’s also tidal, there are lots of slipways and docks and there is a strong current to negotiate. The depth of water is quite shallow along the bank so you need to be a bit careful to avoid hitting the bottom in places.The Extreme 40 catamaran is one of fastest boats out there, crewed by 4 people, capable of going up to 40 knots. You wouldn’t sail them around the world on one, but they are the Formula 1 cars of sailing and attract many top sailors. It is easy to understand why once you have been on one and yesterday was a perfect day - we had a good team, nice guests onboard and everyone absolutely loved it.
Can’t wait for the UK stop of the iShares Cup circuit - the iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week on 2-4 August!
Ellen
Hello Ellen: Excuse my english. I’m a new sailor, i have 40 years old and in february i’d my first experience on a boat. Was great. Since then i have gone to Valencia on weekends, i live in Madrid, to see, to feel and to sail in the Mediterráneo.
Now i’m reading your book “TAKING ON THE WORLD”. I have read in your book words very important for me and for my new “pasión” (in spanish).
I think that i am very old and the see need strong, faith, confiance and many knowledge, and when i think on this… well i only see the difficults.
Thank you for your book, for yor blog and webs, and firstly for your love to the sea and to the live.
We have a great poestry in Spain, Luis Cernuda (he have died long time ago) who wrote: “Quién podría vivir en la tierra si no fuera por el mar”.
Excuse my english again:
Rocío