Race Progress

Vessel Name: Predator
Vessel Make/Model: Beneteau First 50
Hailing Port: Holyhead
Crew: Kevin Jones, Glenn Williams, Keith Mander, Nick Gracie, Warren Bates
About: Kevin's the Skipper, Keith's the navigator and Glenn's - Glenn. Nick and Warren are our two top rabbits. The big open deck allows them running practice to keep fit. Apparently one lap is a half marathon.
Extra: The big issues are:- Will we get over Caernarfon Sand Bar without grounding. Will the mast fit under Britania Bridge in the Swellies?
21 June 2009 | Liverpool Bay
19 June 2009 | Barmouth
18 June 2009 | Pwllheli
16 June 2009 | Holyhead
Recent Blog Posts
21 June 2009 | Liverpool Bay

Star to becalmed

We all thank our supporters for their great send off from Barmouth and being with us all through the Straits.

19 June 2009 | Barmouth

we have arrived

SO we got here together with 33 of the 34 entrants. The RAF are not here - Flight was delayed. Great party night, signed the disclaimers and got the numbers. We are ready to go. The official reports rate us as joint favourites with the J122 Nunatak but we will see. We are the "Talk of the Town.

18 June 2009 | Pwllheli

On the way down

Yes, Pwllheli. Should have been in Barmouth by now. We had good intentions, getting up at 05:00, Kevin and I, and got pounded round The Stacks down through Bardsey Sound to settled water. Glad Kevin got a sprayhood fitted yesterday. Debated anchoring in Aberdaron to wait the tide for Barmouth but cruised [...]

16 June 2009 | Holyhead

Preparation

Predator is nearly ready - which means a massive amount of work left to do. Kevin's up for it and could sail the boat on his own. Glenn's been bogged down with organising a Hoby championship at Penmeanmawr Sailing Club and that concluded Sunday with a great race day in fantastic sailing conditions. Glenn's [...]

Star to becalmed

21 June 2009 | Liverpool Bay
Glen & Keith
We all thank our supporters for their great send off from Barmouth and being with us all through the Straits.

Start went well with all boats crowding for the commitee boat end of the line - feet apart.

The 2/3 of the pack went for tacking up the Rhumb line to Bardsey and 1/3 of us went to go offshore to catch the tide. They got the wind,ww didn't and they still got the tide (Glen's quote "It was Keith's decision") He's right. That set us back in the first half but we soon caught up from 10 mkiles out of Bardsey sound. Used the tides, eddies and shallows to over take 5 before bardsey and then several right in bardsey yards from the cliff in pitch black. Saw one boat spin around in a whirpool and one get trapped up a gulley. Soon cleared them and overtook other on a fast reach up to Caernarfon Bar. The the wind died on the car and we rowed (the runners rowed) to the "Engine on" mark. Blasted to the pier and you know the rest.

Down the Starits was exciting with a tight battle in the Swellies with 7 or 8 boats spinnakers up and rowing with strong current against us. Kevin and Glen put up what can only be described as a Gutsey performance to get us through the Swellies and under the bridges. The way the tides work they tunred for boats behind us so the pack has compressed and we have 16 others in sight.

Warren and Nick have been incredible doing 3 hours 36 on The Snowdon run and then rowing the Swellies. They're rowing again now.

Kevin's still grafting away and looking forward to drifting on the tide into Liverpool while watching DVDs.
Best
Keith

we have arrived

19 June 2009 | Barmouth
Kevin & Keith
SO we got here together with 33 of the 34 entrants. The RAF are not here - Flight was delayed. Great party night, signed the disclaimers and got the numbers. We are ready to go. The official reports rate us as joint favourites with the J122 Nunatak but we will see. We are the "Talk of the Town.

The girls on Helly Hanson istral) are good and finally managed to clean up the mess left by the BBC film crew being sick everywhere.

Glen did turn up at Pwllheli and Mandy had barrow loads of great pre-cooked meals. Their two lads helped with final preparation stowing and checking and in Barmouth even spotted a mooring line problem. Thanks lads.

On to tomorrow. We came in here with 1 metre under the keel and leave tomorrow an hour earlier on the tide so we may have to dig our way out of Barmouth to get to the start line.
Kieht & Kev

On the way down

18 June 2009 | Pwllheli
Keith
Yes, Pwllheli. Should have been in Barmouth by now. We had good intentions, getting up at 05:00, Kevin and I, and got pounded round The Stacks down through Bardsey Sound to settled water. Glad Kevin got a sprayhood fitted yesterday. Debated anchoring in Aberdaron to wait the tide for Barmouth but cruised on slowly with 3 reffed main only. This boat is so fast we still got there 3 hours early as the wind built to F6 nearly F7. Did have a few boat problems and may need a spare of this and that - we came all the back to Pwllheli. In Predator you can do that - its like having a Power Boat.
Got to see Mistral being filmed by the BBC while goingn like a rocket in the now F7 off Pwllheli. Right that's it - off to the pub. Finally we are taking bets on when Glen will arrive, could tomorrow morning 100-1, could be tomorrow PM 50-1, tomorrow night 10-1 and 1 minute before leaving Barmouth 1-2. Place your bets online now.

Best Keith & Kevin (and the FIVE GIRLS from Mistral)

Preparation

16 June 2009 | Holyhead
Keith Mander
Predator is nearly ready - which means a massive amount of work left to do. Kevin's up for it and could sail the boat on his own. Glenn's been bogged down with organising a Hoby championship at Penmeanmawr Sailing Club and that concluded Sunday with a great race day in fantastic sailing conditions. Glenn's wife, Mandy, has been slaving over a stove to prepare the meals. All microwave as we have the luxury of a generator and MW. Goes well with the Jaccuzzi and wide screen TV. Gwenn has been busy, busy, busy organising just about everything. Buzzing around smiling and persuading people into action. Ian & Sian are ready with Caravan for their marathon support role and the runners have been - well running. Nick's on a high and Warren's foot is good now.

Kevin and I head off on Thursday morning for Barmouth. Couldn't go Wednesday as it will be raining.

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