Whew! I am just back at base in Dun Laoghaire after the gruelling Fastnet 450 race. Having raced down the East coast, around the Tuskar Rock and the Fastnet Rock many many times, I think this one may have been the toughest...........
I was racing on John O'Gorman's beautiful Sunfast 3600 "Hot Cookie" with a great team of John, Noel Butler, Hannah Linehan, Andrew Irvin and Alan Walshe. During the race we had plenty of onboard action. We flew our North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail (with a single reef for a while), 3Di RAW Code 2 jib for the start and after the Muglins rock a few hours. We flew our 2015 NPL Sport Xi Code Zero at the start. Down the east coast we had a tough sail change ("Hot Cookie" has jib hanks) to our 2015 Di ENDURANCE Code 3+ jib (it has a reef to make it a No. 4 jib - we didn't use it thankfully!). As the breeze lightened toward the Fastnet we changed up again to our North Sails 3Di RAW J2 again and then hoisted our 2015 A2 asymmetric at 2am after rounding the rock for the long long run back to Cork....
There were interesting sail trim challenges. It was key to set the boat up in a forgiving mode upwind in order to go FAST (not high) in the seaway in the strong winds. We set the sails up with just enough fullness for power down low, but tons of sail "twist" up high for ease of steering and minimising drag. For the close reach to the Tuskar, it was essential to set the jib up with an outboard sheet sheeted to the rail to open the sheeting angle whilst not losing power through excessive twist. We matched this then with appropriate vang and mainsheet tension for helm balance. We built the sails with reflective trim stripes too which made the sails easy to "read" in the rainy darkness.
Here is a quick video of yours truly winding the North Sails 3Di 780 RAW Code 2 jib in as we rounded the Muglins after furling the Code Zero...........
Our amazing clients had fantastic results in the race.......Chris Power-Smith's 100% Corinthian team on "Aurelia" won line honours powered 100% by North Sails. They flew their North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE 780 mainsail (with a reef too for a while), 3Di ENDURANCE 780 Code 2 jib, NPL Sport Xi Code Zero, 2012 3DL 860 TF1 Code 3 jib for the bash south, 3Di 780 RAW Code 1 jib and their MASSIVE gold North Sails A2 back from the Fastnet. They won line honours after a great battle with Denis Murphy's Nieulargo. I raced the 2018 Round Ireland and the 2019 D2D with the "Aurelia" team and they are so solid. Big congratulations to you all - especially creditable given their 100% Corinthian crew.
Aurelia flying her North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail and her MASSIVE gold North Sails composite A2 Asymmetric approaching the Cork Buoy - Photo: Bob Bateman
Line honours winning team on "Aurelia" - Photo: North Sails Ireland
What can we say about Denis Murphy and AnnaMarie Fegan's Grand Soleil 40 "Niuelargo"? They won IRC overall - fantastic job guys. It was also brilliant to see Denis and Annamarie's daughters Molly and Mia racing aboard. Molly said all the oldies aboard were a bit "soft" - the next generation are taking offshore racing head on - which is TREMENDOUS! "Nieulargo" flew their North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE 760 mainsail (with reef too for a while), 3Di ENDURANCE Code 1.5 jib and NPL Sport Helix Code Zero off the start line. Down the east coast, they also changed jibs and did an in-line peel to their 3Di ENDURANCE 760 Code 3 jib. On the run from the fastnet they flew their big North Sails S2 SK60 symmetric spinnaker. HUGE congratulations once again "Nieulargo"!
Nieulargo flying her North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE Mainsail and her NPL Xi SPORT HELIX IRC Code Zero at the Fastnet 450 start 2 - Photo: Afloat
The winning Nieulargo team Photo: North Sails Ireland
Across the fleet, it was great to see so many boats flying North Sails. We'd like to give a big shout out also to the teams that started but didn't quite make it. Well done guys. It's a testament to North Sails immense durability that there were no North Sails failures that forced boats to retire. We are REALLY proud of this.
Special mention to Ronan O'Suchru on "Irish Offshore Sailing" who stood by and excellently relayed radio comms with the emergency services for the stricken "Red Alert" who unfortunately suffered a dismasting.
Another retiree, Grzegorz Kalinecki, skipper of the smallest boat in the race, the First 310 "More Mischief" is still flying his 2012 North Sails mainsail - "his best sail" in his own words! I spoke to him this morning (Wed.) and he is off the Tuskar Rock, en route back to Dublin - single-handed! Fair play to you Grzegorz..
Brendan Coghlan's team on "YoYo" also had a tough one, being becalmed off Cork for many hours. I raced with the "YoYo" team during the winter (see video below) - their time will come!
Finally, with thanks to "Afloat", here is a few interesting pics of North Sails powered competitors in the Fastnet 450...........
Andrew Algeo's "Juggerknot 2" flying her North Sails NPL Xi Sport Mainsail, her 3Di 760 Flying Jib Top and Staysail at the Muglins Photo: Afloat
Derek and Conor Dillon's Dehler 36 "Big Deal" flying her North Sails 3Di 760 Mainsail (they had three reefs in at one point!) and 2012 3DL IRC Code 3 Jib at the Muglins. Derek and his son Conor raced two-handed with water-ballast that they fitted themselves Photo: Afloat
We look forward to seeing you all on the water soon and as always, sail FAST.
