Yacht Racing in 2010 – the Exocet
Campaign
Do
you want to be part of it?
The
Exocet racing campaign for 2010 is offering you the chance
to take part in a demanding, yet rewarding series of yacht
races throughout the 2010 sailing season. This is a full
campaign either for the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC)
offshore races, for the Junior Offshore Group (JOG) races
or for Cowes week, Round the Island and a number of fun
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 determined to find time to go sailing and to give up some of your weekends to race on a RORC-rated yacht with a wish to learn new skills and become a motivated team player. Minimal racing experience 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.
On board Exocet we are offering you the chance to be part of our Offshore race programme, which includes competing in the 340-mile JOG race to La Trinite in South Brittany and offshore races organised by RORC. These races will take you across the channel to France and the Channel Islands. Alternatively, we have our Inshore race programme, which starts with some training weekends before the Round the Island race, a short inshore race to Yarmouth, and if you can spare the time, a 5-day cruise across the channel. Then there is Cowes Week (of course!), the Dartmouth Royal regatta, a regatta at Yarmouth and a crew dinner for the whole crew to wind up the season.
Both programmes are 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 a long distance race will give you the chance to prepare for the Fastnet race in 2011. 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 she will get a good result if the crew plays their part.
WHAT’S THE DEAL?
Have a close look at our 2010 race programme then
decide which races you wish to take part in. The Warsash
Spring series races are a good way to start the season and
you will join Exocet at the Hornet Sailing Club pontoon at
Gosport.
(see directions, to include car
parking instructions.) You
will sleep on board and will need 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 and Kevin Taylor,
who are joint owners of Exocet. For the first 2 months of
the programme, you will be expected to take part in some of
the training weekends, depending on your skills &
experience and our requirements to ensure Exocet is fully
crewed for each weekend. However you will not be expected
to commit to every weekend!
We are pleased to offer a berth on Exocet for
£30 a 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.
In addition, each crew member, including the skippers, will
contribute equally to a
Boat Kitty. This
will be
£12 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 ashore are not included.
Travel to and from Exocet will of course be your
responsibility. For some of the major races, such as the
RORC race to St Malo and JOG La Trinite 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 advised to take part
in a voluntary RYA ISAF Safety Training Course (with
certification) before the JOG La Trinite race. This is a
3-day course (over a long weekend) and includes First Aid
and Sea Survival. The course fee will be your
responsibility and the certificate you receive will be
valid for 3 years for First Aid and 5 years for Sea
Survival.
You will be offered the opportunity to purchase Exocet crew
clothing, 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 race programme is less than half 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,
chriscopeland777@btinternet.com,
telling him what you want to achieve in 2010 and a little
about yourself and your sailing experience. You should also
indicate your availability for the Warsash Spring series
(end of March – end April, see race programme.) which will
allow you the chance to have a look at us and decide want
you want to do for the season.
Finally, we would remind you 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.