After prepping the Class40 “40-Degrees” over the past two weeks together with Fred (see earlier post) I’m leaving later today to join the boat in La Trinité sur Mer (France) where the Class40 Worlds are being held later this week. This event is basically the only event on the Class40 calendar that sees the boat racing fully crewed and with an inshore format. Speed runs, windward-leeward courses and parcours cotiére are all possibilities to decide who will be Class40 World Champion for 2008. For “40-Degrees” there is even more at stake as with a good result they can grab the overall prize for the ’08-season.
Afterwards I will be joining Fred to sail the boat back (dual handed) to the UK and I really, really am looking forward to that (even though it is just a delivery)!
Upon return Fresher’s Week will have started and focus will shift back to university life, another thing to actually look forward to.
In the mean time a lot of other stuff is going on in the world. Gerd-Jan Poortman (who taught me a lot about being on the bow), Jochem Visser (raced a lot with him the past year) and Bert Schandevyl (with whom I had the pleasure of racing the Commodores’ Cup) are competing to represent the Dutch sponsor on board one of the Volvo 70’s. They’ll be joining Ed Hill, who was my watchleader during the BSC. I’m looking forward to the Volvo starting again and wish all of them the best of luck! (also to Wouter, Naviguessor for the Russians)
But before that is going on there is the X35 worlds with “Cool Runnings” present and looking to better their result from last year (2nd). I’ve got my fingers crossed for them but conditions are not very promising based on the last update. Good luck anyway!
Then there are a couple of friends and mates trying to win some very impressive Matchrace events throughout Europe. All the best to them as well, obviously!
As you can read, it’s all good times.
Ciao!
