I thought I'd compose this little piece in light of the amazing pics, blogs and videos of the initial few hours of the 50th Fastnet Race last week. It looked EPIC!
I am not sure we have permission here to reproduce some of those cracking images we saw online. So, I thought I'd share this mad one with you - taken aboard the late Denis Doyle's Frers 51 "Moonduster" in the 1993 Fastnet - 30 years ago - how did that happen?
Moonduster - The late Denis Doyle (seated at the back with navy cap) and among his crew Neil Hegarty Senior (helming) and article author Maurice O'Connell in the red top
North Sails-powered boats had fantastic results across all the classes in this year's Fastnet. Who could forget the sight of the 29 IMOCA 60s beating out of the Hurst narrows at the Western Solent, with treble reefed mains and small inner jibs...........check out this YouTube interview here with Charlie Dahlin, skipper of the IMOCA 60 "Macif" after they finished in Cherbourg and besting 2nd placed "Paprec Arkéa" by just 4 minutes!
"Macif" was 100% powered by North Sails to take the Monhull Record.
Offshore racing is just different......in so many ways - crew compatibility, skill sets, reliability, redundancy, navigation, software, logistics, nutrition, weather, routeing, clothing, "what ifs", hygiene, character, stamina, fitness, SAFETY - I could go on and on and on!
J109 "Ruth" sail testing her North Sails AGRADE Superkote A3 reaching asymmetric prior to the Dun Laoghaire To Dingle Race - pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland
Here at North Sails, we know that the requirements for offshore sails can sometimes be a little different too.....for the following reasons:-
- durabllity - due to the 24/7 nature of the racing
- ease of usage - due to reduced crew on deck e.g need to be able to be fast upwind in a seaway with a wider "groove" and more stable downwind because trimming may not be so accurate or focussed
- visibility - need to be able to see sails at night (not easy if they are black!), so North Sails have optional Glowfast / reflective stripes, numbers and even LED solutions for this
- data provision - accurate sail data on their wind ranges and wind angles can he hugely helpful at night due to the reduced number of visual "cues" available in the dark - use the software on your onboard screens to assist with TWA, TWS, AWA, AWS etc.
- broader wind ranges using latest HELIX technology for headsails, flying sails and even mainsails now too - really useful to reduce the number of sail changes, thus preserving stamina and energy and reducing time loss
Sail testing North Sails HELIX Code 2 jib on SunFast 3600 "Searcher" prior to 2023 D2D Race - pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland
- shock loads - e.g. downwind shocks over prolonged time periods places a premium on quality materials and manufacturing techniques and careful alignment of fibres, seams, fabric characteristics etc
- IRC offshore set-up - number of kites, jibs, mainsail reefs, sail areas, ORC Category requirements, sail areas, crossover TWA's and TWS's etc.
- specialist offshore sails and setups for deployment / usage on long legs to ensure enough time for payment "payback" e.g. genoa staysail. flying jib, spinnaker staysail, Code 0 for "blast reaching" etc, usage of reaching kites etc.
North Sails Dual purpose furling hi-viz genoa staysail / storm jib on J112e "ValenTina" - pic: Evan O'Connor
Here is a video of us aboard "Searcher", off the Mizen Head in West Cork, in this year's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race blast "reaching" with our Code 0 and Genoa Staysail at 145 TWA (true wind angle) in 33 - 35 TWS (true wind speed)..........you would hardly ever see this inshore!
Here at North Sails Ireland, we LOVE offshore racing and are particularly pleased to see some fantastic offshore results this year so far from our gritty offshore clients.
Dun Laoghaire to Dingle winner - Cookson 50 "Privateer" flying her beautiful North Sails HELIX 3Di Code 0 - Photo: Afloat
Take a look as these offshore results so far this season.........
Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race
Overall
1. Privateer - Cookson 50 - North Sails
IRC 1 (excluding "Privateer" who was obviously first in this class)
2. Searcher - Sunfast 3600 - North Sails
IRC 2
1. Mojito - J109 - North Sails
IRC 3
1. All Or Nothing - Sunfast 3200 - North Sails
IRC Cruising Class
1. Alpaca - XC 42 - North Sails*
ISORA Series 2023 to date
IRC 0
1. Rockabill VI - JPK 1080 - North Sails*
IRC 1
1. Mojito - J109 - North Sails
IRC 2
1. Jac Y Do - Jeanneau SunFast 3200i - North Sails*
Ailsa Craig Race 2023
Video above taken aboard Alan Hannon's JPK 1030 "Coquine" flying her North Sails 3Di RAW mainsail and North Sails HELIX NPL Code 0 en route to 2nd overall in the Ailsa Craig Race - video: Mikey Browne
1. Elandra Of Down - Sigma 33 - North Sails
2. Coquine - JPK 1030 - North Sails
3. Pippa IV - Beneteau First 40.7 - North Sails*
From your North Sails Ireland team - Nigel, Shane and myself - Sail FAST
