Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Oyster</strong> 56, Blue Destiny<br />
38 www.oystermarine.com<br />
The <strong>Oyster</strong> party embodies the camaraderie and<br />
friendship found within the <strong>Oyster</strong> fleet.<br />
<strong>Oyster</strong>'s Joint MD, Murray Aitken, a<br />
hardened rugby supporter (albeit Scottish),<br />
was not going to let the small matter that<br />
none of the locals in Las Palmas seemed to<br />
have any interest in this event, preventing<br />
him and a large number of the <strong>Oyster</strong> fleet<br />
from watching the match.<br />
With the exchange of a few Euros, he<br />
managed to persuade a local bar to open<br />
up for the match and some 100 <strong>Oyster</strong><br />
owners, supporters and crews cheered<br />
England on to victory.<br />
AND THEY'RE OFF...<br />
With moderate winds forecast and sunny<br />
skies, conditions were near perfect for the<br />
start of ARC 2003. The atmosphere in the<br />
marina was one of excitement and<br />
anticipation, with plenty of crew hurrying<br />
around finishing off last minute jobs. By<br />
1030 the last boat had checked out and, at<br />
the final count, 212 boats were scheduled to<br />
cross the start line. The weather forecast for<br />
the day was NW force 4-5 decreasing<br />
during the morning to NW force 3-4 by start<br />
Winner of the <strong>Oyster</strong> Trophy, <strong>Oyster</strong> 56, Roulette<br />
time. At 1200 the Committee Boat, the<br />
Spanish Navy vessel "Medas" was in<br />
position on the start line.<br />
The Cruising Division started at 1300 and<br />
having watched the racing division start the<br />
majority of boats chose to favour the<br />
committee boat end of the line. The cruising<br />
boats took a more cautious approach than<br />
those racing and only five spinnakers<br />
crossed the line at the start. By 1800, the<br />
majority of the fleet had reached the south<br />
of the island, enjoying some lovely nighttime<br />
sailing in around 10 knots of breeze.<br />
After a near perfect start, with pleasant NW<br />
winds and warm sunshine, most ARC crews<br />
settled down to their first night at sea, trying<br />
to establish a routine following the excitement<br />
of the start day. Some of the yachts hit a calm<br />
patch off the south of Gran Canaria, whilst<br />
others reported a few hours of headwinds.<br />
However, as darkness enveloped the fleet, the<br />
forecast wind appeared, scudding the yachts<br />
through the surf at good speeds on their<br />
adventure to a St Lucia.
Change language