Victory in the Cruiser-racer class .

It is finally confirmed. Notabene wins in his class, the group of 20 cruiser-racers.
We couldn't believe we'll end up before the fasts Grand Soleils, but we beat the GS 40 with 9 min on the finish line ( after 15 days racing). With recalculating the handicap we even end up long before them. So there is gonna be a party at the pricegiving tonight at the Club Med! Some 500 people will attend, as there are families arrived, so the family Vandewalle and Sabatier. ( marilyn and Fang arrived last night ...)
For an article in the french TQ press. See the site www.transquadra.com. Link: presse, and see Franco-Belge triomphe ...

So far, we'll enjoy the last days here, with the family.
See u all back soon in Belgium or Brittany
K

super accueil !Monday, febr 13, approx noon time, after 15 days and some hours (details to follow later), Notabene crossed the finish line at Le Marin. Under a beautiful wind and sun, there was a 'comité d'accueil' with music, singing and applauding people that awaited us at the pontoon d'honneur. Handing over the obligatory t'punch ( my first alcohol since jan 1 ...)

Finishing in the head of the peloton with a 'heavy' boat isn't someting that was left unremarked for the competitors and the organisation. During 15 days the head of the peloton, the F1-racers, had been surprised, or been questioning: what is Notabene still doing here ??? Or what the fuck are they still, or once again, crossing our way ?
Imagine whe hadn't broken that second spiboom... must have lost about 5 places ?

Anyway, we finished after the Grand Soleil 37 MUSIX, in the provisional ranking of the 'poids lourds' ( the cruiser-racers). But before another Grand Soleil 40 ana GS 37. Will this be enough to keep the second place after the recomputation with the 'handicap system' ?

Yesterday, after a first night of party, we received a provisional ranking overall with the handicap included. It seems that we are place 25 in the overall ranking (!!!) Before many pogos and other F1 raceboats. Yes, proud we are !

But also some bad news: 4 boats have dismasted, one boat sunk ! Many competitors had problems with spinnaker gear and lost a lot of time ...
It's been a heavy race for many ...

Conclusions :
1 : the prestige of the TQ , is a fight between ARCHAMBAULT and JPK, which JPK has obviously won this edition : a first place in double ( JPK 10.10) and a first in solo.
2 : the 'heavy weights', cruiser-racers, could keep up with the F1 racers, due to winds under 20 knts the first part ( these boats go surfing as of 20 knts wind, wth a big swell)
3. There is more and more Race in the Race ( F1, Pogos, Jeanneau 3200, criser-racers) which is good and will make the organisation think of having more cats next time.

I'll coe back with fianl figures, later this week !
so far,
Kristou

Hurray, after a beautiful 'last' night on the Atlantic, still under the jury spiboom, I wake up from a last one hour sleep and Gilles calls out : TERRE ! What a bioetifoel and emotional moment... After the light and fickle winds of sundagevening - we were afraid to have one more day to go - the tradewind picked up again and stayed E with 15-20 knots. We made speed but were afraid to have to gybe many times, and that is a nightmare with the jury-rig. But the wind shifted a few degrees to the N so we could hold the line... Gybing takes about 30 min. So 2 gybes is One hour is a loss of about 7 miles ... imagine ! Now we're heading for point 'Caprit' south of Martinique, we see one boat yet, don't let it be there before us... ( boys will be boyzz, haha) Next update will be from the pontoon in Le Marin! Kris & Gilles

Since 1500 h UT we have the kite (spinnaker) back up ! Well, the improvisation we did on the broken end of the boom is holding now for 1,5 hour ... But difference in speed is tremendous: I see peeks on the speedo like 11 en 12 knots. On 300 NM from Martinique, thet could make quiet a difference in ETA ( estimated time of arrival)

It's very hot today, few white clouds and wind from E, some 20-25 knots, let's say, a well established tradewind. We are still racing off course, and want to be the FIRST of the cruiser-racers category (which is not official - but we'll make it one, as there are F1 raceboats and the other ones). seen the time (till the spiboom breakdown) we were still up with some raceboats, we're quiet proud of that...

Since then, we look behind us, and check out our direct competitors ( some 20 cruiser-racer yachts). with some there is like an elastic line, but were holding on. One boat is still in front and another one only 6 miles to our port side. These we have to hold of ...

So, we're eager to get that 'imaginary' trophee !!! (and with the spi back in top now ....)

Cross fingers, one again,

seaU, Kris & G

We are just trying out some jury-rig. after the spiboom we could use on one side had hold the genua all night and even up to gusts of 30 knts, we thought we can give it a try with the smallest spinnaker. So far it's holding, but wind has dropped till approx 19-20 knts. We'll put back the gennie tonight (28 knts + announced...) but so we know we can hoist a light spi in case the last miles before Martinique might be in light airs ... ( as the weatherforecast predicts ..) So far, so good, very hot and humid, 30+ degrees inside the boat! Less than 500 miles to go so, cross fingers and touch wood ! Thank u all ... K & G

vendredi 12.30 TU position 17°1 N / 52°11 W ; 23/25 nds de vent sous génois tangonné ( tangon bricolé pouvant permettre de tangonner le génois, voir un spi, mais par vent plus faible)

au dernier pointage, nous regressons doucement ( 37 ème) et donc nous tenons le mieux que nous pouvons sans pouvoir utiliser nos spis. cette nuit, nous avons croisé à 50 mètres près (!) un de nos concurrent qui nous a passé, la Belle équipe, qui n'avait plus d'instrument de navigation suite à une surtension nous disaient-ils à la VHF !! chacun ses petits pépins. mais ce qu'il faut dire, c'est que malgré tout, nos vrais concurrrents ( bateaux similaires au notre ) sont tous encore derrière ( eCosi, Batida, feeling good, joie des iles, serenade, ...) ils remontent mais sont toujours derrière, ce sera au finish !!

sans spi, notre stratégie est de nous mettre sur la route directe plein portant tant qu'il y a du vent nous permettant de faire 7/8 nds et de jouer sur quelques empannages lorsque le vent modifie sa direction ( shift ) et molie et dans ce cas nous tenterons de renvoyer un spi, sur notre système bricolé. voilà côté course. nous avons des nouvelles de dominique et d'andré sur Papillon ( digital key), ils attaquent à fond et sont classés 12ème.

sinon, navigons entre poissons volants ( très bons !!) et dauphins, toujours aussi sympa. avons pris notre rythme sommeil, repas, aucun problème, nous sommes tout à fait en forme. et nous allons passer sous la barre des 500 miles restant à parcourir (arrivée prévue lundi fin de journée pour l'instant)

une expérience de la course au Large qui sera ancrée pour longtemps !! bonne jouréne Fred sera lundi au Marin pour nous acceuilir avec le ti punch !! Gilles & Kris / Nota Bene