Today I submitted a preliminary registration package to enter Sitzmark in the bi-annual, 2011 Marion Bermuda Race, starting June 17, 2011. Optimistic but not impossible if the stars align. The logistics of preparing any boat and crew for a Cat-1 offshore race are not insignificant.
First, there is preparing the boat to meet ISAF Cat-1 requirements. In our case, it means building the boat to be Cat-1 compliant and then insuring she passes that inspection. Then there is the laundry list of offshore sails, safety, rescue, electronics, medical, spare parts, etc. etc. etc. to be provisioned. The boat must then be approved by a Race Committee' Inspector. Any out-of-compliant issues must be corrected by a date specified in the Notice of Race...usually in a panic at the last desperate minute.
Assuming a April 17, 2011 re-commissioning, we'll have less than two months to remedy any shortcomings and learn how to sail this boat.....not to mention, deliver her to Marion, MA for the race!
Which brings us to race crew and return delivery crew recruitment. Oh sure....everyone wants to GO to Bermuda. But few want to sail a boat back. Why? Because after two weeks of delivery, preparation, standing watch and parties, race crews want out of the sardine can - they want to fly H-O-M-E! What they leave behind is often a stinky gym locker. And that's if it's a dry race! If it was wet, the aroma and textures can be positively... toxic! ;)
My Bermuda Race' hero, the late Jim Mertz had it right. 'The best race is one with a happy crew'. Fortunately, we only need 5-7 happy mates in each direction and a few have already volunteered. Sitzmark was literally built for this race so it's a worthwhile goal for her 40th birthday.
3 comments:
Dear Michael,
Thanks very much for your email which I am forwarding to our General
Manager who will be looking after the docking for the Marion race and
I'm sure he will help in any way he can. We are looking forward to
receiving your reservation form, and seeing you next June.
Kind regards,
Sandy
Sandy Gascoigne
Assistant Club Secretary
Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club
25 Pomander Road, Paget PG 05
Bermuda
Tel: (441)236-4411
Fax: (441)236-8561
We've experienced a setback. Based on the sailplan math, it looks like we'll need time for experimentation after re-commissioning to fine tune the race sail combinations. In all likelihood, this will not allow enough time to build these sails prior to Bermuda. We may have to settle for shorter and later starting races in '11.
It's official. The boat will not be commissioned in time to make the Race this year. Disappointing. We'll hopefully hold her Commissioning and renaming party on the same day though - June 17.
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