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Wrington sailor, Gary Clements, and his fellow crew member, Chris Knowlton, sailed in the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club's Azores & Back Race, winning their class overall. On his return, Gary jotted down some reflections which are accompanied by photographs he and Chris took. |
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Overall distance: 2,801 sea miles
Dart to Falmouth: 60 miles return
Fal to Ponta Delgada: 1,392
Ponta Delgada to Fal: 1,289 |
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Distance to Azores as the crow flies:
1,220 miles
Best 24 hours:
143 miles
Worst:
42 miles
Average daily run: 106 miles
Speed average for boat: 5 knots |
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Top speed recorded: 13.4 knots
(the boat fell off a wave !) |
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Greatest speed was with the spinnaker - normal speed 6-7 knots/surfing at 8/9 knots |
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Preparation for the race |
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For us:
500 mile qualifying passage non-stop - we went to continental shelf & back, 550 miles, great trip in 2002 |
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One-day sea survival course - how to use a liferaft, &c - great fun ! |
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For the boat:
Self-steering - most important item, worked fantastically. Purchase from USA
Wind charger Solar panel
Inverter (to run computer)
Extra water tank
Extra bilge pump
Extra sails |
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SSB radio receiver
for downloading weather onto the computer
(didn't work !)
Satellite 'phone - hired for trip. Used first 2 weeks for downloading weather ... then Marian received a bill !
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