Challenger 4 Fastnet Update

Updates from Challenger 4

We’ve had are first updates from the team of Challenger 4. The team are pounding round the course, obviously focusing on their boatspeed, rather than blog/updates. It’s paying off though and they are in a commanding position ahead of the other two Challengers and ahead of all bar one of the similar boats in their class. Go Go Go Challenger 4!

Challenger 4’s crew happy and hiking on the way to the Rock

Watch change and dinner

Mon 1030: Update

It’s been a busy first day and a half. some good tactical battles with need for plenty of concentration.

The forecasts were constantly changing and not agreeing with each other so the best approach to the Scillies and then crossing the Irish seas was difficult to work out. we had initially planned to head north of the Scillies but south of the north separation scheme, but the tide turned against us as we arrived, so we reviewed our plan and ended up providing all onboard a good sight of bishop rock in daylight and in darkness – just in case we don’t see it on the way home. Shortly after passing the Scillies, we were treated to a picturesque crescent moon low in the sky as it set under the glow of the sun reflected off the clouds.

Currently heading north waiting for the wind to shift to the west so we can straight-line it to the Fastnet TSS, currently 90 miles from this point. We would, maybe, have preferred to have been a little further west before tacking, but ch3 tacked so we decided to cover – we gave them 20 mins or so to reconsider their choice but as they held on we tacked north too.  If the wind shift comes in soon it might be enough to hold us all the way.

It’s looking like a beat up the north side of the Fastnet TSS before we get around – then a decision needs to be made regarding spinnakers.

Everyone onboard doing well and working hard as a team to squeeze out every meter we can on the other Challengers or at the very least not give any metres away.

Mon 1925 Update

Making steady progress to the rock – 35 miles to go to TSS SW corner. wind looking like it is going W around our arrival time so will be a shortish beat from the NW corner of the TSS to the rock before we can start heading east again.

Hoping to be around the rock in early hours of the morning, then might not get much signal until back near Bishop’s rock, or even when nearing France.

Tues 0000 Update

The Irish Sea wouldn’t be the Irish sea without a little sting…. a touch more wind than expected so pushing things more than would like. We have now put a reef in and stabilised the situation. ideally want a Yankee 2 up, but wind easing now a bit and getting a little lift too. feeling we should have tacked an hour later still earlier in the day, but had to cover Challenger 3.

Challenger 4’s position shortly after this latest update

Posted by: First Class Sailing