Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

James Hardiman Blog 3: Solo sailing and race preparation issues...

by James Hardiman 2 May 2018 15:00 UTC
James sailing with his son at Club Mayotte, Bordeaux © Ocean Elements

I've had the most disappointing start to a race season in the last 10 years! I seem to be plagued with boat problems, which is not a new phenomenon in the world of yacht racing but at least many readers of have sent supportive messages. So, thank you.

As a re-cap, this blog is an insight to my solo racing campaign. For which I intend to take a new (but 16 year old) race boat, set her up from scratch and race an entire offshore series with SORC (Solo Offshore Racing Club) which includes the SoloFASTNET in June.

Readers may remember my three hurdles: I'm recovering from major shoulder surgery, I have no boat (she's in Holland undergoing a major rebuild), and I'm not exactly time-rich being the MD of a largish skiing and sailing holiday company, Alpine Elements.

Apologies for the radio silence [since my last blog] but frankly, I've got little to report - having done almost no sailing or significant race prep, (as the boat in question is still laid up ashore), I find myself in a disconcerting position with my first offshore race a little over two weeks away. Will I make the start line?

First: The shoulder

On a happy note, I'm making a good recovery from my rotator-cuff surgery and after seven months of rehab it's still feeling weak but I'm getting back into sports again. Last weekend I decided to chance my 'first sail' since the op in September in my racing dinghy. I tentatively took my RS100 out for a light wind spinnaker session (see my attached photo) which was a nerve wracking session but at least I feel like a 'sailor' again.

Buoyed by this achievement, I took the executive decision to enter a race the next day at my local club, North Devon Yacht Club, Instow, mainly because I've entered the Blaze Nationals in June but I've never actually sailed a Blaze before! Notice the theme here? Clearly I need the practice... So I managed to borrow a Blaze to get learning the boat and came away with a respectable 7th and no major shoulder troubles in spite of nearly being thrown out of the boat a few times. So far, top marks to the surgeon!

Second: the race boat

Sadly, the prep for my new (old) J-105 is not going so well and is a month behind schedule. Fluke IV should be safely tucked up in Hamble by now, having her final race prep for the start of the solo inshore series this weekend. Instead she's still in Holland where I bought her last October receiving major surgery in pretty much every area.

I will now miss the first inshore races which would've been a more sensible inauguration for her to the world of offshore racing, but what can I do? Since my target is to race a full offshore campaign, I'll have to be satisfied just to make it to the start line for the first offshore race on May 11th. If I make it, then she'll be far from ready – still waiting on the delivery of sails (!) and a computer-generated IRC number.

Third: North Sea delivery

I'm planning to sail Fluke IV back across the North Sea during the next two weeks. She's had a lot of hull work, brand new rigging, complete new electric system, all-new navigation equipment and a new engine and gearbox - so the yard have rightly advised me to test the boat before sailing her back. All that seems to remain of the original boat are the settee cushions and the loo! Well, at least that's two less things to test...

Next blog...

My next blog entry in two weeks should be a little more interesting after I've managed to (hopefully) bring her to Blighty... wish me luck!

www.oceanelements.com

Related Articles

Some thoughts on provisioning for distance sailing
A new perspective on provisioning and time spent at sea One of the great joys of distance racing unfurls the moment that the dock lines are untied. Suddenly, the myriad packing lists that inevitably define most trip-planning efforts become about as relevant as a tax return from eight years ago. Posted on 1 Jul
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted on 1 Jul
Project FEAR is in the final few days
Charity circumnavigation almost over, in record time, with a record total raised Jazz Turner is expected to reach home (Brighton Marina) on Monday 30th June or Tuesday 1st July. She has sailed round the British Isles - all round Ireland and the Shetland Islands - without any assistance in 27 days so far. Posted on 28 Jun
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun
Project FEAR turns southwards
Charity circumnavigation progress report from the Shetland Islands Last month I didn't even know that Muckle Flugga existed. Yet today, the very name of the island brought tears of emotion to my eyes, as I heard Jazz Turner scream it out in victory, in a video she took when passing the lighthouse. Posted on 22 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season. Posted on 15 Jun
The oldest video footage of Kiel Week
A look back into our video archive at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s In our series of articles looking back in time through our video archive, we visit Germany. Kiel Week is been a crucial event on the world circuit, and here we look back at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s. Posted on 15 Jun
Jazz Turner's fundraising target is smashed
Already £30k raised for Sailability, so it's time to up the ante Jazz Turner has now passed the northern-most tip of Ireland and is on her way to the Shetland Islands, and at the same time her fundraising total of £30,000 has been smashed! Posted on 15 Jun
Selden 2020 - FOOTERArmstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMHyde Sails 2024 - One Design