30th April 2009

Not too much to report today really… same old sunshine, blue skies and turquoise waters. Last day of racing but all the crews seemed to head to the bars straight after the last race to talk about the week’s racing and experiences. The few I managed to speak to tell me what a wonderful week that they have had and I get great feedback for the sailing crew (who get all the glory.. though of course all the hard work is done behind the scenes.. but we just get on with it quietly!). Many months of preparations seem to have resulted in a multinational, mixed ability bunch of sailors and adventurers having a superb weeks sailing in this tropical paradise. Dave is visited by many of the guests for his fabulous photos of the weeks action from the water and from the boats themselves (see www.lightwaveimage.net).

Comments were made by many sailors on the change of the racing format this year and I speak to the race committee who are seriously looking for constructive criticism about the racing to help them improve the regatta and cater for the needs of the majority to make this fun regatta grow year on year. The lack of a ‘lay day’ in the middle of the week seemed to be the main topic of conversation.

All in all a great event for us. The merchandise franchise has exceeded all expectations and we have taken in many comments from the customers to come back next year with more of what they want from this type of event. Gear can still be purchased by visiting www.ondeckoceanracing.com/gear along with photos from Dave website mentioned above.

This regatta really is the jewell in the crown of the Caribbean regattas, and before they nail the lid on your box, everyone realy must experience it. One day I will come here as a sailor rather than for work maybe!

Thank you for reading my blog.. I hope it gave you an insight into this fabulous regatta… maybe I’ll see you out here for a Rum & Ting next year? Or maybe a glass of Champagne in Cowes Week in my home town one August.

Simon

29th April 2009

A couple of hours sorting out some office work at the hotel and catching up with some action points before I head off the to the Dockyard. The yachts were off the dock early today with the Division A boats doing a race to the west around Redonda and back again (with the smaller boats stopping slightly short at a race marker. The division B boats head up to Jolly Harbour on the North East Coast starting from just outside Falmouth harbour.

I head up to Jolly Harbour and drive through the stunningly beautiful rainforests and along the coastal roads with great views of the beaches along the way. I have only ever arrived here by water before so this is a real treat to get out and explore the Island a little on the way. The water looks so inviting and the palm trees give shade to the lucky people able to relax and enjoy the view of the turquoise water.

We set up camp in the marina and our guys set to work setting up our mobile merchandise stall selling all manner of Antigua Sailing Week gear. I head off the check our boats that are staying in Jolly Harbour and ensure that our charter clients are happy and have not broken anything today (all part of the service!). All seems good with all the boats…. Then I hear that Monkey had managed to damage the engine on our RIB (had to get that one in as I have been getting stick for months about a little incident on our UK RIB for several months now!).

The party is in full swing and I meet my Canadian friends whilst walking down the pontoon. I get physically dragged onboard as they will not accept a no to their invitation to join them for a post race cocktail! Well, they will be chartering from us next year boss! I am treated to a Canadian specialty… a Caesar. This concoction is made from Clamato juice (tomato juice mixed with clam juice), Worcestershire sauce, a lime wedge and a stick of celery….. oh and a large measure of good vodka! WOW… that is some drink!!!

I’m going to leave the revelers to it I think…. need to get some shut eye before tomorrow. The sounds of the band Itchy Feet fill the air as I walk to the car. How do these people do it every night for 7 nights. There slogan must be that “the liver is evil and it must be punished”… hey, plenty of time for detox next week!

28th April 2009

Oh my god I have to get up! Yesterdays long day and late night is taking it’s toll and I ponder for a minute what it must be like to be out here on holiday or to sail as a charter guest. No, I have to keep going, there are jobs to be done and people to see. I Make my way down to Nelson’s Dockyard on yet another beautifully sunny morning and Liz tells me I should have had a lay in this morning and taken a couple of hours off this morning (yeah thanks for that an hour ago would have been good to know this! ;-) ). Dave, the photographer needs a RIB (chase boat) driver, so I decide to use my couple of hours off to get out and see the racing. We don our lifejackets and take off in the Rigid Inflatable Powerboat that our RYA Sea School uses for power boat courses in Antigua for the racing taking place in the south side of the Island outside English Harbour.

We follow Spirit of Minerva out of the harbour and hang around her for a while prior to the starts. I intended to relay some commentary about the start but basically have my work cut out getting the RIB into the right positions for Dave to get the best shots whilst avoiding powered up yachts of up to 70 feet carving us in half.. no mean feet in these large seas that often occur off the south side of the island. We manage to shoot the three Farr 65s racing along with our Beneteau 40.7 racing in Division B. We hang around for them to come back on the downwind leg and we have a job keeping up with the fleet as the pound along in 25 – 30 knots of breeze with following seas. We witness several broaches and my jaw goes slack when I see 40.7s trucking along in full surf mode down 3 metre waves. I kid you not when I say that some of these lighter yachts were seeing numbers in excess of 15 knots! Hold on tight….

I head back in to get some real work done, but feel satisfied that I have seen some of the racing though I did not manage to get my own camera out having to control the rodeo horse of a RIB in these demanding conditions. My throttle arm is going to ache in the morning having to carefully pick my way through the confused wave patterns to keep Dave’s massively expensive photo gear dry.

I get a Skype call from my daughter Ella (14) in the afternoon telling me that she got an A in her French Speaking GCSE exam today and this really makes my day (a little tear in the corner of my eye from a very proud father). Two weeks away from them is hard and I am really starting to miss not seeing them. My youngest, Darcy(10) sends me messages all the time telling me she is missing me and that I should some home (not long pumpkin… see you Saturday XXXXXXXX).

Dave ‘Waddo’ Watson, skipper of Spirit of Juno meets me on the dockside having had a great couple of races. He tells me how satisfying it was to finally cream Louis on Spirit of Isis in both races, though Louis did have to retire from the second race having snapped a headsail halyard, consequently damaging his number 3. He tells me of some exciting close quarter action between Juno and Isis in the first race in these challenging conditions (at this point I issued a verbal warning!) resulting in a 1st over the line in the first race and 2nd in the 2nd race. Boat speeds of 16 knots were seen downwind with following seas which produced big grins all round…if at the cost of sore mussels (they did look pretty shattered when they came in).

A quieter evening in the dockyard as they Party tonight is up at Shirley Heights. My new friends, Roger, Chuck, Steven, Rod and they guys from ‘Soggy Dollar Bar’ (A Canadian crew on a Sunfast 53, some of whom are staying in my hotel) spark up the BBQ on the dockside behind the yacht and their own party starts. They kindly invite me over, but alas, I have to work a while longer yet I am afraid. Damn those burgers smell good…

We close up the tents and Ryan, Pete and I head off to the Gallery Bar for a relaxing drink and a quick ‘wash up meeting’ about the week so far. We eat great tappas washed down with Rum and Ginger and then all agree it’s time to get off for some rest as Ryan tells us that his wife Liz has had his dinner on the table for the past 3 hours (you’re in trouble fella!).

I have received an email from my mother tonight telling me off for my bad grammar in the blog (big kisses and see you soon!)… so I will apologise for this now for this but did point out that trying to fit the blog in with everything else we have going on if not the easiest task ;-) My wife Cheryl is the clever one with the English Literature degree and we always say that “she does the letters and I does the numbers!”

27th April 2009

An early start as the yachts have to make their way from the south of the Island up to the North East for the start line of the Falmouth Harbour Race. Dave, our photographer jumps aboard Spirit of Minerva with our skipper Michael ‘Monkey’ Collier and the guys to get the action - (see the website for pics) and the yachts slip out of the harbour in the glorious Caribbean sunshine.

I catch up with Toby Hodges from Yachting World (another official sponsor of this event) and chat through with him what we get up to at Ondeck in our various global locations. I am hoping that the main focus of his article becomes the way that we try and make quality sailing, hospitality experiences and training accessible to all regardless of experience, age and catering for most budgets though he’ll probably pick up on the new Iced Drinks machine that Pete drafted in (oh Toby.. the mixed berry smoothie down your white Yachting World polo shirt is not a good look.. hot wash when you get home eh!).

Jim (Bag Lady) is mastering the smoothies, crushed ice drinks and more importantly the alcoholic cocktails with the new machine. The guys manning the stand become ‘tasters’ for all manner of exotic cocktails and I make sure that the Pina Coladas and Margaritas are up to scratch - it’s all in the quality control!

I catch the guys from Spirit of Juno and their crew, ‘Team Bandit’ and get a run down of the day’s action and a few quotes. Waddo (Dave Watson).. 7 times Sydney Hobart entrant and past class winner), the skipper tells me that the wind was 25 knots gusting 30 with the flatter seas that are usually experienced to the west of the Island. Rory, 1st mate, tells me that they - and I quote “got nothing wrong today” and that they experienced near perfect conditions. In his own words, “Champagne Sailing”… though I did not see the Champagne Mumm Bottles being smuggled onboard and reminded him of our zero tolerance to our staff drinking and sailing ;-).

Tom, from our St Thomas USVI base is 2nd mate aboard and tells me that the charter guest crew are among the most intuitive he has ever sailed with. “these guys are serious but great fun! The teamwork is great and the calm manner aboard is a pleasure” They manage a 6th in class but tell me they have more to give as the week progresses.

Tonight is our big ‘Official Antigua Sailing Week party’ with Dread and the Bald Heads playing in Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour. Our friends from English Harbour Rum (a fellow sponsor of the event) kindly bring along a free rum bar and a bunch of Yellow Caps for the guests. The band set up and perform the sound checks whilst the rum is flowing and the dockyard fills with crews from all over the world.

Jim and Rob man the iced drinks machine and start serving cocktails in the official Antigua Sailing Week mugs as the customers line up in something resembling a Russian bread queue! The band start to play and the party gets into full swing whilst our merchandise tent starts to heave with crews looking for presents for back home as well as our Line 7 technical kit and Dubarry of Ireland sailing shoes. Curtly Ambrose towers above the rest of the band with his base guitar, all 7 feet of him or so. Richie Richardson on lead guitar attracts attention from cricket fans and plays it cool whilst the vocalists pour out Reggae tunes one after the other along with certain adapted covers in a Reggae stylie! The band and the rum go to well and the dockyard is full of contented sailors swaying and moving their feet (some in a more random way than others) to the music in the warm Caribbean moonlit evening.

Having stared at 8am this morning, it is now nearly midnight and my feet are killing me. Luckily, the rum cocktails are numbing the pain and we all decide that iced cocktails are the future for Ondeck given tonight’s success and sit for a second contemplating world domination in the iced drinks market…it’s gotta be easier than this sailing lark! I am now in serious need of my bed……….

26th April 2009

Wow the long days and the hard work (just to make sure the office don’t think that I am on holiday!) seem to have got to me.

Liz has taken the early shift, so I take the opportunity to sleep in till 8am!! as I have a late night at Fort James tonight so have a couple of hours off. After a quick breakfast, I take Dave to the press boat in Catamaran Harbour and slope off to the Dive shop to hire some snorkeling gear. Having stopped by our temporary HQ in Nelson’s Dockyard, I pick up Neil our rigger who is persuaded to come along and take a dip. Pidgeon beach is my destination and I throw my clothes into the back of the truck and make my way across the white sand to the water. A whole year since I have made my way into the sea without all manner of parts of my anatomy shrinking! I love the Solent in the UK, but the water is a slightly different shade of blue and a thousand degrees lower!

We make our way up to Windward Bay and at first I wonder where the fish are. The water starts getting clearer a little way from the shore and a school of minno type fish (excuse my vague knowledge) engulf me darting hither and thither. Before long, I see Trumpet Fish, Star Fish, Blue Tangs, Clown Fish and tens of colourful fish that I need to research the name of. I surface and clear my mask, clear my snorkel and look straight down onto a Hawksbill Turtle!!! I saw two last year from the chase boat surfacing for air, but never less that 3 metres away. I call over to Neil and spook the turtle who had disappeared by the time I look down again.. damn!

I look at my watch and realize that I have to be back in the Dockyard ready for a trip to Fort James in the North of the Island where the Division B yachts finish there ½ round the Island Race by mid afternoon and anchor up ready to come ashore to party the night away on the beach. Only in the Caribbean would you only complete a Round the Island race in two days.. on the Isle of Wight (a similar distance race) we start early and get the job done in 1 day. Oh, and by the way, Ondeck still have limited individual and whole boat spaces for this 1800 yacht plus race on 20th June this year to get the plug in - click here for full details.

The bay seems quieter than last year due to the fact that the Division A (Faster boats) boats do a whole round the Island for the first time due to the new race format provided by GWM Racing. Several boats dock in the neighbouring Dickinson Bay but the beach starts to come alive with sailors, tourists and locals. We have the official Antigua Sailing Week merchandise stand on the beach and I help Jenny run this for the afternoon whist promoting Ondeck’s global activities. We are placed right next to the main stage where the band pump out great music for the visiting revelers. Food stands sell locally caught fish, BBQ Ribs, Chicken and all manner of local specialities and bars fuel the party goers with cold beer and English Harbour Rum. I spot a lobster being BBQ’d and decide that this is dinner (or lunch in actual fact seeing as I have not eaten since breakfast!).

The sun goes down and we decide to pack up and head back to the South Side of the Island. A quick trip up to Shirley heights where Itchy Feet are playing.. just one rum and back to the Hotel as it has been a long day.

Spirit of Minerva manages a 6th in class, Spirit of Juno 11th and Spirit of Minerva a 17th (come on guys… too much Rum last night?).. see me….must try harder! I’ll quiz the guys on what went wrong tomorrow!

Tired looking at this screen in this low light so signing off……

25th April 2009

Someone’s playing five aside in my head as I wake up and I guess I had too much sunshine on my ever thinning scalp during the day (That’s my excuse anyway). No time for breakfast as we have our crews racing for the first day today. Now the dock is looking serious, with all the yacht crews in their matching crew kits ready to do battle on the crystal warm waters to the south of the Island. Our crews have their official Antigua Sailing Week Line 7 kit with yacht names and numbers and look every part the pro crew… the week will tell ;-). The start takes them to Tuna, on to Cat, Bluff, Legacy, Curtains and back to Bluff. The breeze is stiff with 20 knots, gusting 25 which is perfect for our Farr 65s. If a yacht could smile, they would be grinning from stem to stern.

Being stuck in the hospitality tent for most of the day, I have little to report on the racing today, but will endeavour to convey this through our crew over the coming days… sorry. Suffice to say that Louis and his crew managed to get out of the blocks first over the line with military precision and take 2nd overall on the day.. good start fella! The legendary Farr 100, Leopard managed to snap her boom which is a real shocker given her past performance in bigger seas and stronger winds… what a shame for her crew (I hope that they managed to get something sorted).

Cold beers and Rum Punch seem to be gratefully received by our guests and talk of the days racing resonates around the Dockyard…. along with plans of which parties will be visited tonight. We close up the tent and Jim (Bag Lady… and RYA Instructor for our Gosport UK base) and I head off to the Rib Shack for some first class BBQ Ribs and Chicken washed down with Ice cold Carib (local beer). The food is great here, and caters for all tastes and budgets with fresh local produce on offer in the best restaurants to the street vendor.

Back to the Hotel to catch up on some office work and update the blog. Dave is sat on the terrace having uploaded all the days photos to his website having been on Spirit of Minerva today and we plan the day for tomorrow. Rum and Ting time now so I’ll be off.

24th April 2009

The day I had been waiting for - Mount Gay Rum Party Night, this year at Zanzibar! 2nd training day for our crews and some more hardcore shakedowns before tomorrow's racing.

Jet lag forgotten and a little more used to the climate, the guys all slap on the sunscreen ready for some more practice and familiarisation. Our individuals' boat has crew from all over the world with two girls from Austrailia, one from Ireland, several from the UK, a Brazillian skipper and one from Arizona. We erect a signpost in front of the hospitality tent where our crew can nail on a hand painted sign with the direction and nautical mileage to their homes using my hand held GPS.

The merchandise tent is constantly busy and we are seriously running out of our Line 7 technical range even before the racing starts! Pri is busy branding up yacht names on the kit that is going on yachts from around the globe. We deliver all the kit that we supplied to our friends at Coram Watches who are fellow sponsors and also the skippers' bags and T-shirts to all the race committee and helpers (WE ALSO DO SAILING YOU KNOW!).

I am looking at my watch knowing that the free rum stops at the Mount Gay party at 8pm I have half an hour to get there. We close up the tents in record time and my truck is full of eager party goers including our Photographer Dave and a couple of our guest crews plus our rigger Neil. I’m sure there is a speed limit on the Island, but I think that Jenson Button would have had trouble catching up with me tonight (on note of caution, please always drive carefully).

We get there and the music is pumping out, the BBQ’s are smoking and the rum is being poured in liberal quantities to the revelers. Music from the fantastic band Itchy Feet goes on throughout the night and I manage to down a few just to be polite and not appear out of place.

I think I may have danced like ‘a dad at a wedding’ for a while the guys at the office have seen this and believe me it aint pretty but then, when in the Caribbean! As well as the band, the stage is taken over at one point by an all girl crew who have obviously been practicing their routine for several months and then on to a fire eater/juggler.

The end of the night comes far too soon and Dave and I agree that this was a top, top night that we will remember for some time to come.