Sleeping Forecast

I typically get up at 5:30 am. My clumsy daystart routine routes thru the kitchen where the timer has tripped the espresso machine 20 minutes earlier, past my whiteboard hanging in the hall where I track morning weight and compounding tasks that ideally will add up to something greater than the tasks themselves, and ultimately, coffee in hand, to my desk in a chart-table type den I have fashioned in the laundry room.

The first thing I do, once seated, is turn on last nights Shipping Forecast on BBC 4, the ‘full version’, that went out early morning, 0048 UTC. How did I not know about this? Imagine the most soothing British accent gently relaying the weather, wind and pressure forecast in a perfect and lullaby like tombre. To anyone in the UK it’s and iconic and cherished institution.

I don’t think there is an embedded player but here is a lisk of the areas covered and a link to form your own opinion:

The Shipping Forecast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qfvv

The Sleeping Forecast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cjyk2w

The coolest thing I have discovered is the special edition version called the Sleeping Forecast which overlays ambient and soft electronic synthesised sounds in and around samples from the Shipping Forecast. It’s just the coolest most chill scene.

31.7s Solo Transquadra

My friend Paul mentioned that I might want to check out the Transquadra race that takes amatures, over 40 on a shorthanded adventure around France and the Mediterranean then off across the Atlantic to the grand finish in Martinique. Wow! That seems right up my alley for great goal to hoist up there. I have been on the fench for 2 years trying to figure out what is the best boat I can afford to handle offshore shorthanded races in Europe. (And possibly in and around North America depending on how Flight Risk shapes up or not.)

What was super surprising and kinda bonked me on the head was the fact there are two Transquadra solo races heading to sea in trust First 31.7s. I guess they share the same hull as the original Figaro and why not take a slight bit more creature comfort as well? I really really convinced that Zen’it might not be up for lengthy harsh conditions which I why I spent so much time trying to figure out how to land a Figaro 2. Nic and Therie are about to set off on the Cap-Martinique on their Fig 2 in just a few weeks. The boat is still available to be picked up in Martinique but – not that I see they two solo sailors lining up in their 31.7s – my mind is changing along side the realization of how amazing it is to have a boat that you know that works and treats you right. That is Zen’it.

I will be following this amazing woman, ROELANDTS ANN PASCALE on her journey aboard her 31.7, LA FAUVETTE.

Basic Nav – Navigated

A few weeks ago I completed my Sail Canada Basic Navigation course. There was a great opportunity to do a condensed version over 2 weekends. The timeline was a bit compressed by the coast was great in helping with homework questions and making himself available. I was thinking this would be a good primer and foundation builder for the upcoming Yacth Master Offshore coming up in September. I pushed it off a bit as I am still taking too long to do complex navigation questions. I always seem to mess up with silly simple math mistakes that increase in frequency when I am rushed. So goann take the summer to really burn in the theory. I did pretty good on the course and I am now focused on the RYA advanced problems. I found that doing chart problems on the train is much like the practice onboard – bumping around and hard to hold things still enough to make a straight line.

Just a couple of examples of the tidal stream calculations and respective charting a Course To Steer.

Boat Updates

Well – Zen’it is being delivered to Martigures by my friend Pierre. She’ll hang out there until mid May when I’ll get back down to liven things up with a trip and race around the Porquerolles area. Need Deep needs a worklist and serious hull shine jam. Flight Risk remains at Ontario Yachts waiting for the ideal moment when all the stars align and her hull gets fixes. That remindes me, I need to get a serious list started for her as well. She will be living at the Alexandria Yacht Club. More on that story later.

Ahh – It feels good to get back to some TWIS writing again. Now that spring is in the air and the sailing vibes are increasing, I’ll get back to a weekly post as it’s also cool to look back and see what’s been happening. I have also started some weight training to build some strength.

Ideas for next week:

Alexandrea, Fix Lists, Zen’it partnership and provisioning for off shore, 2024 race schedule and general plan, YM progress, new pals and cool scenes.