Yacht Racing in 2008 – the Exocet
Campaign
Do
you want to be part of it?
The
Exocet racing campaign for 2008 is offering you the chance
to take part in a enjoyable, yet demanding series of yacht
races throughout the 2008 sailing season. This is a full
campaign either for the race to La Rochelle and RORC
offshore races, or for Cowes week, Round the Island and a
number of fun races and regattas along the south coast. You
will receive full training, with programmes which have been
put together to ensure the minimum time off work. The
reason for this is that to fit in with the other members of
the crew, you are likely to be in full-time employment, in
a busy, responsible job and holiday time to you is very
precious.
Nevertheless you are prepared to give up some of your weekends to go racing in a competitive yacht, with a wish to learn new skills and become a motivated team player. Minimal experience at this stage is all that is required, but that said, you are fit, you can swim and have done enough sailing to know that you enjoy it and want to do much more. You certainly would like to improve your big boat sailing skills and racing experience. And you want to be part of a friendly, social but competitive crew.
We are offering you the chance to be part of either our Offshore races, which include competing in the La Rochelle Race and the qualifying offshore races run and organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. These races will take you across the channel to France and the Channel Islands and of course around Ushant into the waters of South Brittany to La Rochelle. Alternatively, we have our Inshore races, which start with some races before the Round the Island race, some JOG coastal races, Cowes Week (of course!) and the Dartmouth Royal regatta. The season will finish with a regatta at Yarmouth and a crew dinner to wind up the season.
The programme is much more than just taking part in a race. The training weekends in the central Solent will see to it that you are made fully aware of what is expected of you, the clothing you will need and the skills you will need to acquire to become a full-on member of the Exocet crew, whether for offshore or inshore racing.
For some, competing in the La Rochelle race will give you the chance to decide whether you want to stick with it and compete in the Fastnet race 2009, but for others, a week at Cowes and taking part in close-quarter races “round-the-cans” is something you may have always wished to do. Whatever your aims, Exocet needs a highly competitive, skilful crew to do well. The yacht is designed for racing and her new sails will ensure a good result, if the crew plays their part.
WHAT’S THE DEAL?
Have a
close look at the programme and then start to decide which
races you wish to commit to and when you wish to start the
training. You will join Exocet at the Hornet Sailing Club
pontoon at Gosport.
(see directions, to include car
parking instructions.) You
will need to be prepared to sleep on board and will be
required to bring with you oilskins and sailing boots, a
sleeping bag and a change of clothes in a small kit bag.
You will be introduced to Chris Copeland, who will skipper
Exocet for most of the races, although others will be
available to help you acquire the skills necessary for
ocean racing. Michael Rooney will be the crew chief for the
offshore races and Jo Bowden will be crew chief for the
Inshore programme. You will also meet Kevin Taylor who is
the co-owner of Exocet.
We are pleased to offer a berth on Exocet for
£30 per day, (or
part of a day),
which will include training days or taking part in our race
programme. We do not differentiate between offshore or
inshore races.
Each crew member, including the skippers, will also be
asked to contribute equally to a
Boat Kitty. Past
experience has shown this works out at close to
£10 per day and you
should allow for this in your budgeting. The kitty will
cover race entry fees, on-board food, drink, berthing fees,
gas and diesel. Provisioning and cash management will be
the responsibility of the skipper. Meals and drinks taken
onshore are not included.
Travel to and from Exocet will of course be your
responsibility. For some of the major races, such as the St
Malo race and the La Rochelle race, you will not be
required to deliver the yacht to its next race venue, but
will be expected to make your own arrangements to return
home after the race. You will be fully briefed on travel
requirements in plenty of time, to allow you to make
suitable plans.
As an offshore crew member, you will be required to take
part in a RYA Safety Training Course (with certification)
before the La Rochelle race. This is a weekend course
covering heavy weather sailing, weather forecasting, sea
survival and first aid. The cost (about £180) will be your
responsibility and the certificate you receive will be
valid for 5 years.
You will be offered the opportunity to purchase an Exocet
crew shirt, after you have taken part in at least one of
the training weekends.
ARE YOU UP FOR IT?
You may
well be surprised (because being the sort of person you
are, you will already have done your research) that the sum
we are asking for our 2008 race programme is a great deal
less than that requested by other sailing organisations.
The reason for this can be found in the first few
paragraphs. Remember we are looking for motivation and
commitment, which we know can be found in most people who
are busy in full-time employment. So if you really do feel
you are up for it, please send an e-mail to Chris Copeland,
using the Contact page,
telling him what you want to achieve this year and a
little about yourself and your sailing experience.. You
should also indicate your availability for the Warsash
Spring Series races (end March – end April, see
programme) which will allow you the chance to have a
look at us and then decide whether you want to stick
with Exocet for the season.
Finally
we would advise that some sailing experience is necessary,
so that you know before you start that you enjoy sailing
and want to become more experienced, in particular on the
big-boat racing circuit.
We look forward to hearing from you.