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May 25, 2007

AZAB 2007

Later on this evening my father and I leave our berth in Burnham and head for Falmouth for the start of the 2007 Azores and back race. The race consists of 2 legs (there and back) with a stopover in Ponta Delgada and covers a distance of 2500 nautical miles.

The preparations and effort required to get to this point have been tremendous, frustrating and tiring. The list of jobs completed includes a new pilot and rewiring, new mast, rig and boom, new sails, new Sat phone etc. To date this project has taken at least a year up to this point.

The support received from friends old and new has been very flattering. A special mention should go to:
• The Stanbury’s (I include Naomi in this crowd) for being lovely
• Winch Master Whatley for his servicing skills (Carrie for making me tea)
• Jerry Freeman, Paul Peggs and the Petit Bateau crowd for lots of good advice
• The TBYC and CYC elite
• Dave H for chillin
• JB for giving me another good reason to get there.. See you in the Azores JB!

The AZAB website (www.azab.co.uk) is supposed to also be publishing the official position reports so be sure to check that out. I had originally thought I would opt out of the position reporting but so many people have said they would like to track our little adventure it would be a shame to disappoint. In addition to the content found on the AZAB website I will post as much content via Iridium SMS here (www.ninjod.org/azab2007/) . Note.. I only finished writing this gateway today so fingers crossed.

If your are one of the special few who have my Sat phone number then the URL you need that will enable you to send my father and I SMS type messages is here.

Finally a number of race participants are also attempting to raise cash for a number of different charities. Take a look at the bottom of the entries page on the AZAB website and if any of the stories/charities take your fancy pledge what you can afford. I must say I find it admirable that these people have found the time to both prepare themselves and their yachts as well as raise cash for good causes…

Content (picture’s and video) should be available at the end of the 1st leg, until then happy thoughts to you all.

Paul

Posted by ninjod at 06:31 AM | Comments (5)

May 02, 2007

Herring Part 2 - Davewah's Pictures

Local man Davewah Hyde, an international man of mystery and a drinking legend snapped these pictures during the beat up the Wallet in last Saturdays EAORA Ralph Herring race.

Shortly after taking these things on the boat he was on started breaking. Unfortunately they were forced to retire.

Posted by ninjod at 12:43 PM | Comments (1)