“
Suddenly, 18
miles west of
La Rochelle the cleat
holding the gennaker
halyard lost its grip,
Phillipe bounded
over the trampoline
to capture the falling
head sail, I turned the
boat head to wind,
pulled the main to the
centre of the track and
got the jib down
Next stopover, Les Sable d'Olonne,
the mainsheet and how I could power
the falling head sail, I turned the boat
just 28 miles further south, is the home
up the boat by using the apparent
head to wind, pulled the main to the
”
of the Vendée Globe but we stayed on
wind and de-power it by sailing away
centre of the track and got the jib down
the La Chaume side of La Vertonne
from the wind or just by easing the
so that we could fold and stow the
because I gennaker in peace. Our
wanted to confidence in each other
see a famous was growing steadily.
example of
Tromp l'Oeil, I found it easier and
the French easier to get the boat
are experts in the groove, using the
at this public apparent wind, as we
art-form. continued past Ile de
Ré and Ile d'Oléron at
Again, with excellent speed with
not much just the main and jib,
wind at first reaching 16.7 knots
we had a down one particular
leisurely wave. The waves were
start, we getting bigger as the
then found day progressed and
ourselves occasionally both hulls
becalmed would cut through them.
for an hour. Phillipe found the bucket
mainsheet. In the end I got used to
Phillipe managed to dodge those he
and washed the boat and I charged
sailing closer to the wind building speed
could see coming so I caught them full
my mobile phone with my clockwork
and then easing away and carrying the
in the face, he found this very amusing.
torch, we sunbathed for a bit, we had
apparent wind with us, it was great fun
our lunch too, eventually the wind filled
and we were now sailing fast.
On arrival at the estuary of the Gironde
in and we started sailing, first with just we had to perform our very first
the jib and then with the gennaker gybe of the whole trip and then run
also. The boat is very comfortable you downwind. Unfortunately we forgot an
sit at a point about which it pivots, so essential stage in the procedure, the
although the bows go up and down, centralisation of the rotating mast. The
you don't, not much anyway! The wind sharp aft end of the spreader sliced a
grew and grew as we passed Ile de Ré small hole in the main sail! This V8 was
and we were zipping along at about 12 the first one built and the subsequent
knots. As the wind built I felt that we boats have a better mast rotating
were vulnerable to capsize not having system that precludes this sort of
sailed a catamaran before sailing this accident.
one. Fortunately Phillipe had done a
Then BANG! Suddenly, 18 miles west
lot of racing in Hobie 18s and after I
of La Rochelle the cleat holding the
Now in the main channel we found
had woken him he showed me how to
gennaker halyard lost its grip, Phillipe
ourselves heading towards some
control the power of the boat by easing
bounded over the trampoline to capture
frightening looking breakers on
»
  OCTOBER 2009 : MULTIHULL REVIEW  19
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