Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2009 | Page 56
life
ON THE WATER
Curtain closes on
another hugely
successful Round
the Island
no problem telling stories about his brother, were there any
to tell. “To be honest, we were all very professional in what
we were doing so there were no real tabloid scoops,” he says,
rather luckily for Jules. “Jules was way too busy to be worried
about what I was doing and the whole team had trust in me.
We were all very business-like in our behaviour onboard, but it
might have been nice to have recorded some arguments –had
we had them!”
Having done it, Guy is convinced that recording the race from
onboard is firmly here to stay. “It’s the only way forward and
it was a great success,” he says. He’d like to do the race for a
third time, and even do the same job, although he would rather
be on deck, sailing the boat.
Jules, also on his second lap of the planet, having navigated
Pirates of the Caribbean to second place in the previous race,
says sleep deprivation and stress are the two things that go
hand in hand with his highly responsible job of navigator.
“You are always tired, but you get used to it. The skill is in
making the right decisions and working with your crew when
you are perpetually in this state. You put into it all you can so
a two-day leg is as draining as a 40-day leg. It is important to
pace yourself. If the weather is behaving and going to plan,
then extra time spent going into too much detail is a waste of
effort and there are plenty of times when this is not the case.
Most of the pressure comes from yourself. You want to do a
good job for the team.”
Now, though, the focus for the Jules and Guy is on meeting
up with friends from Cowes, and doing the great things that
the Island has to offer. “Compton Beach, pub lunches, Gurnard
Dinghy Week, cycling the Wight and going to the Bestival are
By: Flavia Bateson
from the lack of wind leaving
Speaking at the prizegiving
the smaller, lower rated
of the JPMorgan Asset
entries to carry off the top
Management Round the
prizes. Tattarat (Folkboat -
Island Race on Sunday 21st
Philip Williams) won the Gold
June, Commodore of the
Roman Bowl by heading the
Island Sailing Club Bill Pimlott
leader board in IRC followed
congratulated competitors and
by sistership Nordic Bear (Brian
race officers alike on a highly
Appleyard) with Scallywag
successful event. £74,907 has
(Quarter tonner - Ali Tyler/
also been raised for charity so
Steve Lawrence) third. In the
far.
ISC Rating System section for
The wind had managed
non-regular racers, Tudor Rose
to play tricks, providing
(Hunter Medina - Richard and
spinnaker-shredding gusts
Ian Cooke) gained a 35 minute
around St Catherine's Point
lead on handicap from Clarissa
before turning through 180
(David Thomas one off - John
degrees and disappearing
Langdon) to take the Silver
completely for some time
Gilt Roman Bowl.
at Bembridge. Despite the
The Raymarine Young Sailor
challenging conditions, 1,566
Trophy went to 16-year
boats completed the course,
old Matt Ponsford from
an increase on 2008. Some,
Chichester. When others were
like the Cornish Shrimper
firmly aground on Ryde Sands,
Nornie and Catalac 8.5 Blithe
cheating the tide that little
Spirits had been at sea well
bit too far, Matt's Beneteau
over 14 hours, in contrast with
First 21.7 Pocket Rocket had
fleet leader Oman Sail Masirah
the advantage of a lifting
(Extreme 40 - Pete Cumming)
keel. Nifty winching assured
which crossed the line in half
just a touch and go. The
the time.
JPMorgan Asset Management
The big boats suffered more
Family Trophy went to the
high on my ‘to do’ list,” says Jules. That should keep them
occupied until 2011 when the next Volvo race starts...
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