Sorry for the very late team update.
Just when I had them all lined up I get thrown a curve ball. So, now I am faced with some tough decisions as to what direction to take the team. I learned from one of my instructors that: “A best laid plan never survives first contact with the enemy.” And it would seem that the plans I drafted for the team middle of last year, needs a bit of a rework.
Team partner, Europa Yachts, shared some news around the end of March that Beneteau would be coming out with the latest version of their One Design solo ocean racing yacht, which is the Beneteau Figaro 3.
“Why is this such a big deal?” those of you who have been following our progress may ask. It is a big deal because the newest version of the Figaro 3–which is expected to come out late 2017 or early 2018–will be a FOILING MONOHULL.
To those who aren’t “yachties”, foils (wing like protrusions) on a yacht mean a couple of things: one, being that the boat goes faster, and two, it will require a significantly more advanced and very experienced sailor to have the skills to handle a monohull with foils.
My learning curve just got exponentially steeper.
2017 was my target date for entry to the La Solitaire du Figaro, a multi-stage/leg solo ocean race covering around 2000 nautical miles. It’s hard enough learning to sail a 33 foot monohull long distance all by yourself. It’s a challenge to even finish without damage to the boat–or yourself. The sleep deprivation makes you prone to mistakes, and only your discipline will help you avoid most of them. Now I have to contend with foils. Just check out the photos below.
While I don’t want to over react to this new development, I am aware that even the best sailors I know struggle to sail foiling monohulls (and catamarans). I am also quite aware and realistic about where I am now in terms of skills and experience.
I am going to need a whole lot more of both skill and experience.
So now considering the Class 40 as my “primary” feels like a better option. The original plan was to do the Figaro first since it’s a one design race with a smaller 33 foot boat. A more logical choice since it’s the jump-off for most solo ocean racers. Some would argue otherwise, but I would never argue with the logic of the French when it comes to solo ocean racing. They are THE BEST in the world, so their way (in my humble opinion) takes precedence over all others.
The Class 40 is a significantly (or slightly, depending on who’s opinion) bigger boat, but without the foils, and has a wider selection of regattas for me to join. One of them being the Route du Rhum, which is another European regatta I am hoping to be able to enter.
It will just be a lot more EXPENSIVE.
I was hoping to make a name for myself in the Figaro, to hopefully attract international sponsors and thus provide me with a bigger bank roll for the Class 40.
But I am not without help. I count myself blessed to have those people who would take the time (sometimes go out-of-their-way) to teach and mentor me, and I cannot thank you guys enough.
While I am not the kind of person who needs constant inspiration and motivation, knowing that there are people out there who support my efforts adds to my peace-of-mind.
I wake-up wanting nothing but success for my ocean racing project, and it’s the last thing on my mind as I fall asleep. Day-in, and day-out. I temper that relentless passion with a more mature logic, which makes me pursue other channels of funding in order to make it all happen.
I’ve relied on instinct driven decisions for most of my life–teaching me the fine art of finessed improvisation in order to get me out of trouble (because instinct usually makes things seem to be good ideas at the time), and while I am faced with an even bigger challenge (rather than trouble), it seems that some improvisation and a lot of the patented “Paolo Finesse” is required.
I will put in the effort to make sure I update everybody on what the team’s final decision will be, whether to keep pursuing the Figaro, or just move forward instead with the Class 40. I would hate to have to push my entry date back, but I owe it to my older self not to be as reckless as my formerly younger (feeling invincible) version.
