Jonathan Crinion Ocean Racing

Jonathan Crinion and one of the world's leading Naval Architecture firms; that of Owen Clark Design LLP have together designed and developed a superb racing machine to the new Class 40 Rule of 2004.

Vessel Name: Friends of the Earth
Vessel Make/Model: Owen Clark Design Open 40
Crew: Jonathan Crinion
20 October 2006 | Pendennis Marina, Falmouth, UK
18 October 2006 | 48,5.57N , 9,13.81W
17 October 2006 | 45,29.51N , 11,19.44W
17 October 2006 | 42,44.86N , 13,40.48W
16 October 2006 | 42,33.68N , 14,3.52W
16 October 2006
13 October 2006
13 October 2006
07 September 2006
14 August 2006
10 August 2006
10 August 2006
07 August 2006
02 August 2006
01 August 2006
24 July 2006
Recent Blog Posts
20 October 2006 | Pendennis Marina, Falmouth, UK

Falmouth

Well that's it, Cape Town to Falmouth. This last bit of the voyage from Madeira has seen some of the worst weather ever - non stop. My wind strategy worked well to go up the centre of the English channel and ships criss crossed all night. The weather grib files have been hopelessly wrong for the past [...]

18 October 2006 | 48,5.57N , 9,13.81W

Knock down

The ocean can be brutal. More to the point the weather can be. Yesterday was sunny but with large swells and I had been hitting 17 knots reaching on and off for most of the afternoon. Speeding off faster and faster, the feeling is exhilarating. With a reef in the main and the Genoa up I was under canvassed [...]

17 October 2006 | 45,29.51N , 11,19.44W

Approaching the channel

All along I've used one nautical chart for the Southern Hemisphere and St Helena and another for the Northern Hemisphere plus one for Madeira. I'm making fast progress at the moment and should be on the 10 degree West Longitude line shortly where I will switch to a detailed chart to take me into La [...]

17 October 2006 | 42,44.86N , 13,40.48W

Contemplation

I'm starting to understand why Bernard Moitessier made the turn and headed towards the Pacific. He was wondering what he would arrive back to if he kept going on to the UK. It's so vast out here and so far away from everything. I have a 360 degree view of the universe. I'm completely self sufficient [...]

16 October 2006 | 42,33.68N , 14,3.52W

Storm Warning

Wisdom says go wide of the Bay of Biscay but my weather files are showing a huge area of no wind to the West of me which forms the centre of a large and very vicious looking low heading this way.

Contemplation

17 October 2006 | 42,44.86N , 13,40.48W
9 knots, Course: 5 deg.
I'm starting to understand why Bernard Moitessier made the turn and headed towards the Pacific. He was wondering what he would arrive back to if he kept going on to the UK. It's so vast out here and so far away from everything. I have a 360 degree view of the universe. I'm completely self sufficient on this boat, and it could take me anywhere, but there are my two wonderful girls, Jennifer and Zoe in University that I miss terribly, my illustrious mum in Ottawa and my amazing partner in life, Stephanie, to name four good reasons to go on.

I'm wondering what I will do with myself after being focused on this boat for so long. Winter is coming. So much has changed, especially me. I feel a little lost actually. What started out as a one line note on my calendar as 'Sail boat to UK' has turned out to have been a much bigger adventure.

I think it was July when I left Cape Town and it's looking like I'll arrive in Falmouth this coming Sunday or Monday (but wait till I get closer to be sure).

At 8 tonight I'll gybe around the tip of Spain and head across the notorious Bay of Biscay. The sky has cleared momentarily for a truce. The sun is setting and the most spectacular rainbow has just appeared, reaching high into the clouds as if to say of nature: 'I have other feats I can perform'.

All the best, Jonathan
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Friends of the Earth's Photos -

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