Exocet Sailing

Yacht Racing in 2009 – the Exocet Campaign
Do you want to be part of it?

The Exocet racing campaign for 2009 is offering you the chance to take part in a demanding, yet rewarding series of yacht races throughout the 2009 sailing season. This is a full campaign either for the Fastnet race and the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) offshore 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, despite the credit crunch, you are determined to keep sailing and to give up some of your weekends to go racing in 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 Fastnet Race, one of the most demanding yacht races in the world and the qualifying offshore races run and organised by RORC. These races will take you across the channel to France and the Channel Islands and of course the Fastnet rock is positioned on the south-western tip of Southern Ireland. 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 the Fastnet will give you the chance to tick that box, 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 she will get a good result if the crew plays their part.

WHAT’S THE DEAL?

Have a close look at our 2009 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 St Malo race and the Fastnet 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 who aspires to take part in the Fastnet race, you will be required to take part in a mandatory RYA ISAF Safety Training Course (with certification) before the Fastnet 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, using the Contact page, telling him what you want to achieve in 2009 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.