Sam Goodchild Sailing

We have now been reaching for a few days, the wind has progressively built and we are screaming straight at our next waypoint under just main and Jib. We are averaging over 14 knots. Occasionally a wave will come along that picks up the boat and sends it skipping like a stone(taptaptaptap) over the next few waves at about 20knots…off like a rocket (or Cessna Citation possibly is more appropriate).

We re about 60-miles form the scoring gate and closing fast with a 25-mile lead on Campagne de Francce in 2nd place. Last night, almost at the end of one of those watches, where you count the seconds till you can get back in the warmth of the sleeping bag to dry off and thaw out. The halyard holding our reaching sail up broke. Instantly the whole sail fell in the water so, a rude awakening for Conrad (wearing just thermals) as we had to recover it quickly before it became a fishing net and went on a demolition darby.

Back on track with Jib we set about fixing it, this involves sending a mouse line thorugh the mast from the top gathering it at the bottom, hoping its not twisted and then pulling the repaired halyard back through. A bit of a nightmare while trying to keep speed up towards the scoring gate in 25-knots of wind, with a deteriorating forecast. Three trips up the mast at day break and we had a mouse line through but…it was twisted and we were shattered. We ate some food, had a rest, a think and prepared our selves for attempt two, thinking of every possible scenario. When attempt two went smoothly and only involved one trip up the most, the world became a better place on Cessna. We dont need it now but, we know exactly how valuable it will be in the next few days. Big cheers all round and we’ll celebrate with some CHICKEN tikka masala and running the engine for a couple hours to warm up the boat.

I have been asked a few times what life on board is like:

At the moment on deck the autopilot is on and doing a fine job. Every other waves hits the side of the boat and then comes down in a huge spray over the cockipit, soaking absolutely everything. There is a constant flow of water across the deck and its not warm either. For this we leave the pilot doing its job 90% of the time and spend the majority of our time down below and take a peak every now and again to keep the boat fast and make sure we don’t hit anything.

Down below resembles a bit of a paddling pool at the moment. We have one side of the boat for wet people and one for dry which, means there is a small area of dry. The air is still very humid though so, everything is constantly damp, thermals, boots, sleeping bag, everything. In the afternoon we get a bit of sun through the back of the boat which does its best to help but, only if there are no clouds. The temperature at the moment is bearable, in the day we are wearing three layers and at night a couple more but, with the moisture it is horribly cold.

We have a huge moon at the moment, it must be near full moon, and when there is a break in the clouds it is a pleasure being on deck at night, with millions of stars and nothing else aorund for 1000′s of miles, a little something to admire before you get hit in the face by the next wave.

All for now from ‘an extremely more optimistic than this morning’ Sam aboard Cessna Citation

Yesterday afternoon, we finally reached the end of the Ice gate we had been skirting the edge of for the past 600-miles. It was a bit of an anti-climax as we turned around theoretical point in the sea, no marks, no race committee, no rocks, no land, no competitors but, still a mark of the race course. We put up the spinnaker and started heading south and almost instantly the temperatures started to drop and the ‘extreme’ thermals from Artemis Offshore Academy’s technical sponsor, Musto, made their grateful debut last night.

Things are going smoothly on board, other than a couple chafe problems with halyards up the mast, we are happily pushing along in 2nd place. We have lost out a bit to the leaders in the last couple days, but we are now back on the chase to try and make back the miles from the slippery French (sorry Miranda) at the front. Equally under pressure from the advancing kiwis on BSL about 10-miles behind us. A small scare yesterday morning after Conrad rolled on his Ankle, but thankfully that was short lived after a lack of sympathy from me, a few drugs and a rest.

The latest food scandal on board is the disappointing discovery that the deceivingly named Pasta in Bella Italia Cheese sauce should be called Carbonara with no bacon.

We have our advent calenders up on the wall and slowly but surely we are ticking off the days till Christmas, with 5200miles still to go it is likely we will have Christmas at sea and hopefully shortly afterwards.

The Albatrosses are impressing me more now, I have got over my cynical first impressions, a big seagull, and now am starting to admire their size and elegance.

All for now form Sam onboard Cessna Citation

We’ve been at see for a week now and its seems a long time ago we were smashing our way south away from south Africa and to wards the roaring forties where we’ve been able to enjoy the high speed eastward surfing.

We have now had 2 days of piece and quiet following our 3 day ‘going through a car wash in a convertible’ sleigh ride. The progress is still good and the intensity high as always with Campagne de France, who we have been insight of for days now, just to the North of us. As the wind goes up and down and we change sails accordingly, the two of us, with two different sail plans, exchange the lead. We had a close call when we crossed with in 50metres of them 2 days ago and at worst we were 4 miles behind last night but are now back alongside again.

With a full day of sunshine yesterday we were able to dry out our selves, the boat and all the sails and are now using the ‘down-time’ to catch up on as much sleep as possible as no doubt, it will be back the the car-wash soon.

My Battle to convert my skipper out of vegetarianism isn’t going well as i fear I am the one being converted. There are a few ‘meaty’ meals on board but I Occasionally get a false hope when it when it is a meal i am used to but… converted. Such as one of my favourites: Kung Po noodles with chicken and vegetables seems to have lost the chicken somewhere along the line, despite being identical in size and shape. Still looking forward to the day that some of my bill-tong turns up in one the day bags from the mystery ‘pick n’ mix’ pile.

My advent calendar!

Its encouraging hearing the updates from the far more experienced BSL that the slamming upwind is equally unenjoyable and its considered a bad day in the office and just something we’ll have to get used to….phew!!.

All for now from Sam aboard Cessna Citation

We have just gybed to head north briefly away from our ice gate limit of 42degrees south. We have to respect this limit for the next 600miles/3days so, for the most part it will be a drag race eastwards between us top 3 boats.

We entered the ‘Roaring Forties’ 3 days ago and since then at has been all that is promised on the brochure. An ultra-fast sleigh ride eastwards. Even if we do look stopped when Banque Populaire comes flying through trying to slow them selves down at 30knots, its fast for us. We’ve had a max speed of 23.7 knots with just the jib up and then we got the small spinnaker up and haven’t stopped averaging below 10knots for a long time now.

Last night we spent in close company with Campagne de France pushing each other hard and making good progress. BSL has fallen back a bit for the moment but, we expect them to be back and the race is very much still on.

Life on board is going well and consists of the the 3 things I most enjoy in life in a continuous 24hour circle…SAIL, EAT, SLEEP, SAIL, EAT, SLEEP…
Something I am not used to is vegetarianism, WE do have some meat on board but, I have taken it upon mylef to try and convince my new skippper, 15 years a vegetarian, that a meal is not complete with about a nice bit of meat. I wouldnt say it has been productive with a significant low point of eating lentil stew(with no meat) voluntarily yesterday, there are 4 weeks yet, who knows what could happen.

Currently surfing in 25knots we expect the wind to start dieing tonight and to have a few days of calmer sialing which, will hopefully give us a bit of time to dry out, tidy, get a few jobs donea nd cath up on some rest.

All for now form Sam aboard Cessna Citation.

Just under 24 hours in and we are approaching the most southern point of Africa, Cape Agulhas. We sailed past the infamous Cape Horn in the early hours of this morning, but it was too far away to see.

We had a fantastic start, reaching in 20-knots of wind but, unfortunately this was short lived as after 20mins we sat in area of no wind for a few hours. The fleet split into two and fortunately our option of going offshore with BSL and Campagne de France has paid off and we are currently sitting all with in sight of each other heading southeast towards the edge of our first ice gate, expected in about six days. It was devastating to hear that the Dutch guys on Sec Hayai, who spen the last 3 days repairing their keel, we’re dismasted last night and we hope they can arrange something to get back on the race course.

We have six hours of relatively calm weather with shorts and t-shirt on deck but, by this evening we will have up to 25-knots upwind for about 36 hours.

We have been getting lots of sleep catching up while we can from the frantic few days before leaving. Being a borderline carnivore most of the time, it is going to take a little getting used to my new vegetarian skipper. Thankfully I have manged to smuggle a bit of Biltong onboard so insanity can be held off while that lasts.

All for now from Sam aboard Cessna Citation,

Sam

Global Ocean Race update provided by the Artemis Offshore Academy:

Conrad Colman and Artemis Offshore Academy member Sam Goodchild led the Class 40 fleet across the start line today at Noon (local time) today for the second 7,000nm leg. The six international teams enjoyed 20-knots of breeze for the start in Table Bay, Cape Town.

Sam Goodchild & Conrad Colman at the start of leg 2 © Global Ocean Race

“We had an exciting start, reaching in 20-knots. However, it was short lived as we sailed under Table Mountain and the wind disappeared,” reported Artemis Offshore Academy sailor Goodchild from onboard after the start. “After sitting in a wind hole for a few hours we finally escaped with BSL and Campagne de France and are now heading south past the Cape of Good Hope into the Southern Ocean.”

Before leaving the dock this morning the Victoria & Alfred Harbourmaster, Steven Bentley, stood-in as the Global Ocean Race fleet’s chaplain, reading from Luke Chapter 8 – a verse advising sailors on a sinking ship that faith in yourself is valuable throughout life.

“I can’t wait to race in this mythical place, the Southern Ocean,” said Goodchild. The Southern Indian Ocean is famed for being one of the toughest seas on planet earth. Cold temperatures, strong winds and large waves will challenge the duos throughout this leg. However they will also be blessed with racing alongside the Albatross, majestic scenery and being in the element for any short-handed sailor.

The Race Committee yesterday relaxed the exclusion zone, which was set at 42S latitude after receiving new weather information regarding the ice flow that the committee feared could pose a danger to the fleet. The new exclusion zone for leg two has been adapted to below 42S from the start until 49E, north of the Crozet Islands, with an additional southern limit south-west of Australia below Cape Leeuwin stretching from 100E to 120E at 45S, pulling the fleet up towards the Australian Bight from the Southern Ocean, permitting a variety of options between the two southern limits. In addition, the GOR fleet has been instructed to leave Kerguelen Island at 49S and 69E to starboard and the Celox Sailing Scoring Gate, stretching north-south at 69E – approximately midway between the African and Australian continents – has been extended south to Kerguelen.

The teams are expecting to complete the 7,000nm leg in roughly four weeks, arriving into Wellington after Christmas. If you have any messages for Sam Goodchild please submit them as a message on the Artemis Offshore Academy Facebook fan page.

Follow Goodchild and Colman here, and stay up-to-date via Facebook and Twitter.

I write this still sitting in London waiting for my flight to Cape Town. 4 days ago I was planning figaro seasons, booking flights to start training in the South of France and looking forward to a relatively relaxed 6 weeks in the lead up to our start of training in January next year. An email and a few phone calls later and I have now spent the last few days excitedly getting ready for my first taste of the Southern Ocean.

I will have 3 days in Cape Town to meet Conrad Colman and try and get to grips with his boat, Cessna Citation, before we set off on leg 2 of the Global Ocean Race, a 7500nm leg to Wellington, New Zealand. To boat is a slightly more robust sister ship to Concise 2, which I just competed in the Transat Jacques Vabre onboard so, hopefully the differences will be minimal. Conrad knows the boat very well having worked on the boat from before it was launched and already sailed it to Cape Town.

I have spent a long time hearing stories and wondering what the Southern Ocean storms, Albatrosses, Ice bergs are really like and I am really excited that in a matter of days it will become a reality that ill be able to see for myself. I have gathered from the stories that it can be pretty chilly down there so, a lot of my time has been spent beefing up my sailing wardrobe, Thanks to Musto Clothing I have been very quickly kitted out with some extra thick thermals and a few more water proofs to make sure none of it gets wet.

During the race, I will be keeping updates via twitter, my website as well as the Artemis Offshore Academy website. There will also be a track on the race website so you can keep a track on how we are doing.

All for now

Sam

Our Transat Jacques Vabre race may have ended prematurely but we felt we made the best of our 6 days of racing. We’re now back in the UK and looking ahead to next season. It’s still a bit painful reading the blogs, position reports and race updates from the competitors who did make it out of the North Atlantic storms and into the trade winds. With 2000 miles still to go, the race for the Class 40 fleet is far from over.

Here are my thoughts on my first Transat Jacques Vabre:

The start was delayed for 3 days to avoid a serious storm making its way across the race course. Mentally, this helped us both a lot, we spent the extra time relaxing, focusing on the race ahead and were both feeling a lot more comfortable.

Team Concise Mascots: The Pocket GIrls

With 3000 miles of trade winds and only 2 spinnakers onboard, we approached the start carefully with the smaller, more robust spinnaker up. Most of the boats had a similar approach apart from Aquarelle who, with bigger sails up, quickly accelerated to a 10 mile lead in the first 12 hours. We spent the first 24 hours getting into our stride and with reaching conditions through the channel we were able to push Concise2 more and bring ourselves within a mile of the leaders.

Although the delayed start meant we missed the worst of the weather, we still had to expect a few storms before the ‘champagne sailing’ of the trade winds. The first one came 48 hours into the race. With boats dropping out behind us, we pushed a little further south than Aquarelle to avoid the worst of the weather. This lost us a few miles but we still saw a significant amount of wind, we had one gust of 64 knots, the most I have ever seen while sailing.

The drowned rat look

With minimal breakages, Concise was going strong and still within a couple miles of the leading boat. We approached the second low with a bit more confidence, swapping places with Aquarelle, who took the safer route. This quickly shot us into the lead and as we approached the next frontal system we were aware that the ferocity would be less but it would last longer. With the angle of the wind approaching this front we were forced to hand steer a lot more which was much more tiring, a sacrifice we were willing to make for the lead.

Lots of water over the deck

We tacked on the front as planned and were able to put the autopilot on, this allowed us to take turns resting. After I finished a watch, I was in the bow area hanging up my foul weather gear when the hull started moving beneath my feet. It was obvious straight away that the race was over for us. Not knowing the extent of the damage, we quickly turned away from the wind to ease the pressure on the boat, gathered all our emergency gear near the entrance, with our life raft ready to deploy quickly. We dropped the sails and informed the race direction of our situation. We weren’t in any immediate danger but were aware that if the damage got any worse, the situation could get very messy, very quickly. We were able to nurse the boat the 130 miles to the nearest port of Horta in the Azores. This was the most unpleasant 24 hours I’ve ever had on a boat, we could see the hull flexing and knew that if it were to give way we would be swimming within minutes.

Before the start of the race we had no result expectations. Our aim was just to give it our best shot and learn as much as possible. We sat in 2nd place for the first 5 days and took the lead 12 hours before we dropped out. I had definitely never imagined ourselves in that position so I feel we made the best out of our week in the race. The Transat Jacques Vabre is now unfinished business and we will both be back! For now, the majority of next year will be taken up with Figaro racing for me and we are working on a programme with Concise2 to do some more races in preparation for the TJV 2013.

A massive thank you for all the support we received during the race, it was a massive encouragement and kept us pushing the boat. And equally, after we dropped out, the messages were a huge help to soften the blow. Also a big thank you to Team Concise who invited me onboard for this event, I can’t wait to get back out sailing next season and finish what we started.

All for now
Sam

We arrived in Le Harve for the 2011 Transat Jacques Vabre 10 days ago now and it’s been a very busy 10 days at that. We started with the Prologue regatta which was a fun couple of days racing in a Beneteau 7.5, on a tiny race course, against all the other skippers. We made it through to the final round and finished 7th in that.

During the week we had to attend a few final briefings and load up the boat with all the necessities to make it to Costa Rica in one piece. Thanks to the help of Tom Dawson, this all went to plan and by Saturday 29th October we were fully ready to go.

Class 40s lined up in Le Havre

The weather was the main topic of conversation throughout the week. A big low pressure system lurking in the west atlantic presented a safety risk for the first few days of the race. It came as no big surprise when the organisers announced on Sunday that the race start would be postponed for several days. If the race went ahead there was a concern that many of the boats wouldn’t make it to Costa Rica. The decision to delay the start was frustrating but in general the skippers agreed it was a good idea. Instead, we spent Sunday competing in a short Prologue race. It went really well for us. We sailed safely so as to not break anything and got an encouraging win in the Class 40 fleet, just ahead of our sister boat, Comiris.

Skippers Presentation

We have spent the last couple of days relaxing, double-checking everything on the boat and analysing the weather for the start, which is now scheduled for Wednesday 2nd November at 15:00. It looks as if we’re going to be spending the first 24 hours on a fast reach, perfect conditions for Concise. In general, the first week looks fairly windy so hopefully we can have a fast crossing and make it to Costa Rica in around three weeks.

We will be updating this website, the team website (www.teamconcise.com), twitter (www.twitter.com/goodchildsam) and facebook (www.facebook.com/teamconcise) as much as possible. There will also be a tracker on the race website (www.transat-jacques-vabre.com).

Hope you have a good month, see you in Costa Rica.

All for now

Sam