Earlier this summer I decided to join the Artemis Academy to prepare for the Figaro in 2011 and a return to solo sailing. It has been over four years since I last competed in a single-handed event, having switched to multihulls in 2005 with the Extreme 40 (2005-7) and the F18 (2007-9). The multihull sailing has proved invaluable because you learn much more about flow (over sails /foils) than in keelboats. It also sharpens your instinct. I employed ex-Olympic Tornado sailors in the early days, as the Extreme 40 is a very different discipline to the Open 60. The last three seasons with the F18 have also been brilliant, particularly racing the Archipelago Raid against people like Eric Proust and Martin Strandberg. The steep learning curve of sailing multis has been invaluable but now I want to turn my attention back to single-handed sailing, with the aim of a return to the Vendee Globe in the near future.
My last campaign with communications giant, Motorola gave me the opportunity to take part in the Vendee. What not many people realise is that my relationship with Motorola was more than just sailing. It started in 2002, just ahead of the Route du Rhum, when Motorola as a company was in decline after the telecoms crash in the late 90’s and had laid off thousands of staff. Knowing that I had recently led a team to victory in the BT Global Challenge, they asked if I would create a leadership programme for their staff and in return, they sponsored my entry into the turbulent 2002 edition of the Route du Rhum. In 2003 with the TJV, I was still engaging Motorola’s employees, even doing live phone-ins from the Atlantic. Securing backing from a major sponsor comes with many additional responsibilities, some not always geared to racing. I’ve learnt a huge amount about delivering value for sponsors over the last 10 years particularly since the Vendee through my own company Sport Environment.
So, in 2010 now with a beautiful young family (Katelyn who is three and Isabel one) settled, I’ve decided to return to solo sailing, but with a balanced campaign that will start next year with La Solitaire du Figaro and then move onto the Transat in 2012. I’m realistic about my chances in the Figaro and I’m looking forward to lining up against the best solo sailors in the world. By joining the Artemis Academy this year, I have access to a structured training programme, advice and coaching. From here, I will charter a Figaro in 2011 and look for a sponsor to cover some of the costs. I see 2011 as a transition year, balancing some amazing work commitments, before returning to sailing full time in 2012.
I look forward to building a new highly visible campaign over the next 5 years with some fantastic partners.
I have been watching with great interest this year’s Route du Rhum (RdR), the incredible solo race from St Malo to Guadeloupe. I remember well the excitement and intrepidation I felt when I was about to start my first solo Transatlantic race in the 2002 edition of the RdR, when I raced in the Open 40 “Hellomoto”. This was a true baptism of fire for me as we were about to head into the worst storm of the race’s 30 year history and the fleet was decimated as we reached the Bay of Biscay. Two thirds of the fleet abandoned the race, including myself as my boat was dismasted and I had to limp back to the safety of Brem-sur-Mer under jury rig.
Really enjoyed watching Franck Cammas’ performance in this years’s Route du Rhum. Great credit to his routing team as well. They went the right way and whilst the handling of this monster trimaran was a probable factor for going south, it was the best option and I was a bit surprised that Oman and Sodebo didn’t head that way.
This summer I attended the trials for the Artemis Academy to get a feel for the Figaro. After a break from solo sailing, I’m very keen to give the Figaro a shot in 2011. It will be a challenge with work and family, as both have grown steadily over the last three years, but having watch La Solitaire closely this year and followed the struggles that Jonny Malbon faced, I’d like to give it a go. More news to follow on this….
I grabbed some time off with Vikki and the girls during August after the Blue Mile inaugural event. We headed to La Torche (Finisterre) and then camped next to the Raz de Sein, in a great spot called Baie des Trépassés. Whilst there wasn’t a great deal of surf about, the sun shone and the girls got to play in the waves and rockpools. I was surprised at how quiet this part of Brittany is compared with further south – lovely spot. The wind blew for one day, which allowed me to kitesurf out to the Lighthouse in the Raz de Sein, the current was amazing, swirling and boiling around the point – I didn’t hang around too long in case the wind dropped!
The time away also allowed a chance to think strategically about the next few years. The Blue Project is now quite established with Teresa managing its day to day operations with the help of Paul and Vikki. The Blue Mile was a great success and all of the partners have expressed interest in building it further for 2011. Whilst the Blue Lecture Series didn’t go ahead this year, we are looking to get this off the ground and already have some great speakers interested in 2011.
I pleased to see Pete Goss’ entry into the Route du Rhum this year, and it certainly got me thinking about this wonderful race which was my baptism into solo sailing. The race in 2002 will go in history as the event that rocked the world of the ORMA 60 fleet, when a powerful storm caused widespread damage to the fleet. I was sailing an innovative Open 40 (Syllogic), which we had just christened “Hellomoto” after an 11th hour sponsorship from Motorola. The race was the start of a wonderful journey towards the Vendee Globe in 2004/5 with Motorola, although soon after I was dismasted in the Bay of Biscay early in the race, it was not the start that I had hoped for….more about this little adventure can be read here… http://www.conradhumphreys.com/racing/conradhumphreys_journey_routederhum_2002.html
I will be heading down-under for my 5th Sydney Hobart at the end of the year and will be putting together a new project for 2011, looking towards the 2012 Artemis Transat.
By now the hard work is normally done and Christmas Day is normally spent tweaking the final tactical strategy. This year, the weather models have really struggled to predict the movement of the ex Tropical Cyclone, Lawrence and therefore each weather run gives a different solution. This race could turn out to be a navigators hell or heaven as there is still a lot of uncertainty. What is certain, is that we start on the 26th December at 1300 and it is likely to be raining! There are two options either staying inshore and beating south in a moderate southerly and favourable current, or heading offshore and taking the scenic route downwind with the north easter. Maybe Santa will bring some clarity tomorrow. Happy Christmas everyone.
It’s that time of year again….nice sat watching the BA ground staff de-icing the planes wings knowing that in 20 hours or so, I’d be back in the Sydney sun for the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race 2009. Really strong fleet this year, with the biggest number of maxis and 100 footers ever to take the start. TP52 winner, Quest is back to defend her title and Rolex Fastnet winner, Ran, owned by Skype founder Niklas Zennström will also be out to win back to back events. Weather models still a little unsettled for a prediction of this year’s conditions, but early forecasts suggest a SSE 15kts at the start, backing around to the NNE later on Boxing Day. Nothing blistering, but still early days.
Today, October 15, is the annual Blog Action Day, a day that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. This year’s topic is Climate Change. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web.
I believe that through education and experience of the natural environment, we can grow a community that loves and cares for the environment. Through this experience, we will change how the communities look at the world around them and learn how to live in a more sustainable manner. Every little action and choice that we make can make a difference and contribute to a global effort, that is needed to slow down the impact we are making on climate change. Just by cycling into work at least once a week means that I now feel healthier – both in myself and for the environment. By choosing groceries with less packaging has reduced our household waste. By being more a little more conscious of our water usage has reduced our bills and our garden is happier for it. All of these are easy-to-do, every day actions that require so little effort, and that’s all we need to do… make more of an effort.
I am passionate and love our ‘BLUE’ environment and so through The Blue Climate and Ocean Project (www.theblueproject.org) and the launch of the new mass-participation event, The Blue Mile, am hoping that by encouraging more people to enjoy our blue environment, they will be encouraged and hopefully inspired to care for it.
09.10.09 – After the intense racing during the Archipelago Raid in Sweden, I managed to take a week off and had a relaxing time back at home in Devon. It was great to be back and enjoy the local beaches and catch up with my family.
I’ve since been busy with continuing work on The Blue Mile (www.thebluemile.org), which will take place July 2010 in Plymouth. We have had an enormous amount of enthusiasm about the mass-participation event, from every corner of the planet from Hawaii, to Australia as well as nationally and locally and will soon be formally taking entries via our website.
I’ve also been working in collaboration with the Global Sports Alliance who has published a new book called “Champions for Change: Athletes Making a World of Difference”. Along with five of our Ambassadors for The Blue Climate and Oceans Project (www.theblueproject.org), I feel privileged to have been asked to be one of the 38 athletes to contribute towards this book which includes three-times Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, four Olympic Gold Medallist sprinter Michael Johnson, world-record breaking long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie, and surfer Jack Johnson amongst other athletes. The book is due to be launched on 4th November at the United Nations in New York.
More locally, I am pleased to be invited as the special guest for the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s (JST) Charity Black Tie Ball to be held at the New Continental Hotel on Saturday 24th October. The JST is a charity which aims to integrate able-bodied and disabled people through sailing their two magnificent tall-ships, Lord Nelson and Tenacious. If you are interested in getting togged up, having a three-course dinner and dancing the night away in support of the charity, please contact Alan Puddicombe the Secretary of the JST Plymouth branch for more details (01752 862868 or email thepuds@toucansurf.com).
The following weekend (30th October-1st November) The Drake Foundation (www.drakefoundation.co.uk) is organising an event with one of our Blue Project Ambassadors, Antony Jinman. The challenge is to “virtually ski” 600 miles to the North Pole in just three days and this will be taking place in the Drake Circus Shopping Mall, Plymouth, using three cross-trainers provided by Nuffield Gym. Antony will be helping the Drake Foundation to raise funds for the Plymouth community and volunteer groups – so do come along to show your support, see Antony’s great photos and video footage and ask him questions about his polar expeditions. Everyone can take part and can “ski” alongside Antony in teams of six. There will be also be prizes provided by Cotswold Outdoor. For more information contact The Drake Foundation on 01752 764455 or email drakefroundation@gmail.com
Our love affair with the Archipelago Raid came to a close yesterday, at least for another year. The pain of the last few days subsided as we hobbled across the finish line off Lindingo.
The previous six days’ raiding now seem like a blur, but the blisters on the hands, the bruises on the knees and the broken daggerboards are the evidence of another enduring event.
A mixed result overall, we came with high hopes of repeating our 2008 result, where perhaps a more conservative approach yielded a strong closing performance. This year we took too many risks and were not on top of our navigation, which resulted in broken daggerboards. To win this event you need to balance the risk. I think we pushed too hard at times.
This event is for me still the highlight of the sailing calender. It produces amazing friendships between competitors, who are drawn from all over the world to test themselves. It is brilliantly organised by Christine Salen and the Atlant team who understand how to push the boundaries of sailing and the limits of the sailors.
The real magic of the event is that over the six days you are forced to make good with what you have. It’s a wonderful metaphor for today’s world where we must learn to be more resourceful. Onboard you carry just enough food and spares and if you break something you find a way to fix it.
It is also an event that perfectly complements the ambitions of the Blue Project. It is a “quest through nature” with every competitor experiencing the breath taking surroundings of the Archipelago through the power of extreme sport.
Today was without question the toughest day for me personally. The course was set back in the Swedish Archielago and involved six checkpoints, scattered about hidden in small beaches and narrow gullies.
We got off well and by the third checkpoint we were up to 4th and going fast. We were sailing downwind in the gusty conditions following Will Sunnucks and Eric Proust when suddenly a rock appeared under the water and we smashed both daggerboards.
Ryan was flung around the forestay slamming his knee against the hull. The boat survived but both daggerboards were in pieces. We carried on to wards the next checkpoint and tried to tape the flailing carbon skins together to effect a repair.
We arrived at the finish in 9th andset about relaminating one of the boards. We only had a two hour pitstop, to eat, rest and rebuild the boards.
I was ony knees, tired, hungry and feeling like the race was beating me. It’s un- understatement to say this race is hard. Everything aches, hands are covered in blisters, arms and legs are stiff and you a contantly feeling like you need more calories.
With no rest your off again for another 100 mile leg. Somehow you dig deep enough to find the strength. Ryan and I have eaten 5000 calories today and still need more food
And sleep…..
Final day tomorrow back to Stockholm. A top ten finish is on the cards, assuming we get through the day without hitting another rock at high speed.
Cheers
Conrad
Leg position: 9th
Top Speed: 22knts
Blue Miles covered: 100+
Just a short update as I’m shattered and need some sleep. The day got off to a great start as we led off the startline in big breeze and sailed out in front for most of the first checkpoint, not bad for the old tiger!
Problems with the starboard rudder caused an early swim leaving the checkpoint, but we made some ground and finished in the top ten.
Second leg the breeze had built to 20 knots and in true Archipelago Raid style we had an amazing down hill run through the rocks at blistering speed. We had some great speed and passed through the fleet to record our best finish of the Raid so far with a 5th.
Tomorrow we will cross back to Sweden before the wind picks up. It’s going to be a 30 miler upwind- ouch.
More tomorrow
Conrad
Leg position: 5th
Speed: supersonic
Blue Miles covered: 74
Earlier this summer I decided to join the Artemis Academy to prepare for the Figaro in 2011 and a return to solo sailing. It has been over four years since I last competed in a single-handed event, having switched to multihulls in 2005 with the Extreme 40 (2005-7) and the F18 (2007-9). The multihull sailing has proved invaluable because you learn much more about flow (over sails /foils) than in keelboats. It also sharpens your instinct. I employed ex-Olympic Tornado sailors in the early days, as the Extreme 40 is a very different discipline to the Open 60. The last three seasons with the F18 have also been brilliant, particularly racing the Archipelago Raid against people like Eric Proust and Martin Strandberg. The steep learning curve of sailing multis has been invaluable but now I want to turn my attention back to single-handed sailing, with the aim of a return to the Vendee Globe in the near future.
I grabbed some time off with Vikki and the girls during August after the Blue Mile inaugural event. We headed to La Torche (Finisterre) and then camped next to the Raz de Sein, in a great spot called Baie des Trépassés. Whilst there wasn’t a great deal of surf about, the sun shone and the girls got to play in the waves and rockpools. I was surprised at how quiet this part of Brittany is compared with further south – lovely spot. The wind blew for one day, which allowed me to kitesurf out to the Lighthouse in the Raz de Sein, the current was amazing, swirling and boiling around the point – I didn’t hang around too long in case the wind dropped!
I will be heading down-under for my 5th Sydney Hobart at the end of the year and will be putting together a new project for 2011, looking towards the 2012 Artemis Transat.
It’s that time of year again….nice sat watching the BA ground staff de-icing the planes wings knowing that in 20 hours or so, I’d be back in the Sydney sun for the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race 2009. Really strong fleet this year, with the biggest number of maxis and 100 footers ever to take the start. TP52 winner, Quest is back to defend her title and Rolex Fastnet winner, Ran, owned by Skype founder Niklas Zennström will also be out to win back to back events. Weather models still a little unsettled for a prediction of this year’s conditions, but early forecasts suggest a SSE 15kts at the start, backing around to the NNE later on Boxing Day. Nothing blistering, but still early days.
