Long Distance Stories

Texel 2004

Al competed in Texel 2004 single handed on his Shdow catamaran, pictured at the finish in the centre picture below.

All Pictures: © Ewout & Frank www.PhoToos.net

The Toronaios Cat Club of Greece has been doing a lot of work with blind sailors on Tornado cats over the past couple of years. The purpose of the first international marathon was to promote this work. It took place in early August 2001 as a long distance ‘sail in company’ for beach cats.

The route covered around 110 nm from Perea, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki, to Sciathos. Backing from several large Greek companies and the Ministry of Culture and Kap Pa 2000 ensured plenty of media coverage.

Wildwind’s Simon Morgan very kindly lent Alan a Hobie Tiger, which came complete with Wildwind’s Nigel Hiscock as crew. The entry was made up of a partially sighted girl, Katerine, sailing a Tornado Sport, Fotis sailing a Nacra 6 and Babis also on a Tornado Sport.

All three had sighted crew from the Greek Olympic Tornado squad and were joined by two of the Greek youth squad sailing another Tornado Sport and event organiser Christos Kontos on his Hobie 21. A Greek coastguard pilot boat provided safety cover all the way.

The first leg covered 30 nm to Limin Litochoro in the shadow of Mount Olympus, but the winds were so light that it took over 8 hours to get there with the only real breeze of the day being provided by a TV helicopter at the start.

On the second day the wind was again light and on the nose, so with just 40 nm covered after a total of 11 hours, the fleet stopped for the night at a beach-side taverna – where a room was found for the disabled sailors, while everyone else slept on the beach.

With zero wind at the start of the third day, the cats were towed for about 10nm until the thermal breeze finally kicked in. It built to a good F4, pushing up a fantastic surfing swell as the cats enjoyed a tight reach to Sciathos, with the last 30 nm over in no time.

The cats finished amid foghorns and smoke flares on Koukonares beach at Sciathos, where the sailors and their supporters enjoyed a meal with the mayor and more interviews with the press.

Following the success of last year’s event, the Toronaios Cat Club of Greece run a second event in July 2002.

This year the aim was to sail round Halkidiki over three days. Halkidiki consists of three peninsulas in North Eastern Greece. Once again the event was well backed, with support of a large hotel chain and one of the Greek ministries. Safety cover was provided by the Greek coastguard and a few ribs.

The participants were a couple of partially sighted Greek guys, Fotis on a Nacra 6.0, and Babis on a Tornado Sport, a partially sighted Greek girl, Iana, on a Tornado Sport and Alan Grace, an English paraplegic, sailing his Spitfire with regular crew Pete Lawson. The Greeks had crew from their Olympic squad.

A few of the club’s youth squad were also sailing a Tornado Sport and another Nacra 6.0 and Christos Kontos, the organiser, made up the fleet with his Tornado 21.

The conditions were perfect for the start from Perea, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki. A northerly force 4 had built up some nice waves and made for excellent downwind spinnaker sailing. All too soon, the 40 odd nm to Sani had been completed and the boats were pulled up onto the beach for the night.

The second day started with more downwind reaching and excellent wave surfing. Fortunately as the fleet rounded the headland, the wind followed them round, so they were able to hold the kites all the way, albeit with lighter winds. After 45 nm, the fleet sailed onto the beach at Marmaras on the west shore of the second peninsula.

On the morning of the third day, the wind had once again gone back to the North and led to more perfect downwind reaching in a good F4. This time the fleet was becalmed for a couple of hours as they rounded the headland. To add insult to injury they experienced a 4 knot adverse current (in the Med!) as they came to the other side. This gave plenty of time to admire Mount Athos, although they weren’t close enough to see all the monasteries. After drifting aimlessly the wind finally filled back in and the sailors enjoyed a two hour beat through 3 foot waves to the finish at Ouranoupoli. The fleet had sailed more than 130 nm over three days, a great feat by any sailor’s standards.

Alan and Pete reported that it was some of the best sailing that they have ever done. Surfing down clear blue seas in bright sunshine, with the spray at bath temperature certainly makes a change to sailing in the UK. The Spitfire did itself proud keeping up with the 20 footers and not once giving a scary moment, despite some extreme bow burying as Al and Pete got carried away.

The event is open to any cat sailors with a disability and the organisers are keen for more international competitors to take part next year. A boat and funding may be available – contact Alan by e-mail on: alangrace@btinternet.com

The Third International Sailing Marathon for People with Disabilities.

The International Marathon for Disabled Sailors, run by Toronaios Catamaran Club in Greece, continues to go from strength to strength, to the extent that it now attracts the world’s best.

This year Darren Bundock, 4 times Tornado World champion and Olympic medallist, took time out from his schedule and crewed for Alan Grace, a paraplegic from the UK.

All the Greek Olympic sailors and windsurfers attended the pre-event press conference and start. Emilia Tsoulfa, the women’s 470 world champion, fired a flare to set the event in motion.

This year Alan was joined by Andy Hill, a tetraplegic from Stockport and once again by three visually impaired sailors from Greece, Ianna, Babis and Georgos. With 4 Tornado Sports and a Nacra 20, together with crew from the Greek Olympic squad, speeds were going to be high. The club’s youth squad once again took turns sailing on another Nacra 6 and providing shore support, thus ensuring future integration.

The event lasted 4 days sailing 160nm around Halkidiki, departing from the cat club at Peraia on the outskirts of Thessaloniki, onto Sani, then Porto Carras, back across the bay and via a short canal to Moudania and finally back to Peraia. The Greek weather did not fail, with blue skies, warm seas and generally a steady F3, which as last year moved around with the fleet allowing for some great spinnaker sailing.

These were ideal sailing conditions for Andy who was returning to cat sailing having broken his neck diving off a capsized Dart 20 on Bala.

For added excitement, the last day brought a brief storm, the aftermath of which provided Alan with one of the most memorable sails ever. Heading initially NNW to windward on starboard, when they tacked across to port the wind changed slightly, leading to a rapid 2 sail close reach back to the headland before Peraia, a bit of footing off round the headland and then a spinnaker reach all the way to home, with the Tornado surfing down the small waves the storm had thrown up and surging forward as the gusts came through. What a blast!

Alan would like to thank Darren for taking the time out of his busy schedule to see what disabled sailors can achieve. Having the world’s best as a crew certainly helps make that achievement higher.

Roll on the next event. 

The 5^th International Marathon for Disabled Sailors

Two British paraplegics took part in the 5^th International Marathon for Disabled Sailors. Sailed in Greek waters, this time it was a story of windward/no wind sailing, but with blue skies, warm seas and top Olympic sailors as crew, Alan Grace and Nigel Eve were not complaining.

Five Tornado sports set out from Peraia, Thessaloniki , each with a disabled helm. The other 3 helms were 2 blind sailors and a sailor with one leg. Alan was fortunate to have Darren Bundock crewing for him,  Darren, once again, kindly taking time out from his busy race schedule. Other crew came from the Greek Olympic squad and from Toronaios catamaran club, ensuring plenty of friendly rivalry on the water.

The first leg was down the Halkidiki coast to Moudania. The second leg was the longest, a passage down to Koukounaries beach on the Island of Skiathos . It was as perfect as sailing to windward gets and the teams were rewarded with some great spinnaker reaching for the film crew, who were recording the trip.

The final leg was Eastwards past Skopelos and onto Patitiri on the island of Alonnisos . Again it was more sailing to windward, but after the open sea sail of the previous day it was fun to have some small islands to negotiate with keen competition to see who could make the most advantage from the wind available.

The people and major of Patitiri put on an excellent reception party with traditional dancers, singers and a great feast.

The story didn’t end there for Alan and Nige, as they were kindly invited to join the youth squad, whose reward for helping on the marathon was to sail the Tornados back to Thessaloniki . Expecting a downwind blast, Alan and Nige turned down a helicopter flight back and set out the following morning with the youth squad. Of course, the wind had turned, leading to some great windward sailing through some large seas. Half way back the wind died, and it was one long tow home. To break the monotony they were towed up the East side of the first leg of Halkidiki, seeing dolphins along the way and stopping off for a swim on a secluded beach.

Alan and Nige would like Toronaios sailing club for organising such a great event and the sponsors for making it happen.7th International Marathon for Disabled Sailors

The 6th International Marathon for Disabled Sailors

Unbelievably, Alan hasn't written this one up yet, so here's a photo instead!

The 7th International Marathon for Disabled Sailors 

The 7th International Marathon for Disabled Sailors took place in July in Northern Greece. Once again it was run excellently by the Toronaos catamaran club of Perea, Thessaloniki. The route this year was a 'circular' one over
four days: Perea to Triglia (35 miles), Triglia to Siviri (30 miles), bothon Halkidiki. From Siviri it was NW back across to 'mainland' Greece to Makrigialos (60 miles) at the foothills of Mount Olympus and from there back
home to Perea (20 miles).

This year's motley bunch of disabled helms were: Alan Grace, a paraplegic and ex-motorcyclist, Stamatis a 'wobbly walker' and ex-motorcyclist, Nikos, a paraplegic and ex-motorcyclist, Fotis and Babis, both blind sailors who
could unfortunately only participate in the first day of the event due to other commitments.

Darren Bundock couldn't make the event this year due to Olympic commitments, neither could Iordanis Pachalidis (the Greek Olympic sailor and twice Tornado European champion). However Iordanis's former teammate (and event
organiser) Christos was once again on hand, as was Stratos Kosmoglou, who just missed out on the Greek Olympic slot. Together with Toronaos's youth squad and Michalis and Sotiris, both keen Tornado sailors, it meant there
were plenty of experienced crew to go round. As always it also meant things were competitive on the water.

On the first day the sailors were greeted by F4 headwinds and quite a large sea. Luckily the Tornados are about the best catamarans for such conditions and the trip down to Triglia was dispatched in a few hours, with a brief
stop for a swim and lunch at the beautiful beach of Epomoni. The 10ft width of the Tornado makes it easy to fly a hull high enough to clear the majority of the waves. Alan sailed with Christos in the morning and Michalis in the
afternoon.

In what was to be the story of the event, the wind moved round for the second day, so once again it was windward all the way, but with a flat sea, so everyone flew. Alan, with Stratos as crew, had great seeing how high he could fly a hull. The conditions being so perfect, most chose to have fun with the spinnaker at some stage during the day.

On day three it was time to head back north west and so the wind duly went round too. This led to some quite impressive seas and Alan had a great time with Polis, one of the youth squad, as crew. It proved possible to 'dance'
through the waves and make a steady 12-14 knots to windward. Once again, most added some downwind sailing with spinnaker to make the most of the conditions.

For day four it was time to head East and home, so of course the wind moved around to keep it windward sailing across to the headland before the run into Perea. From the start it was play time with Alan and Dionisis (a former
youth squad member) sailing alongside Sotiris and Stratos seeing who could fly the highest and sail the fastest. From the headland home it was truly a spinnaker course, with those able to twin wire benefitting the most as it
meant sailing high. Flying the hull all the way home made a perfect finish to a great event.

Alan would like to say a big thank you to the mayors of all the stopovers, who stepped in at the last minute generously providing fantastic meals and top notch accommodation, as well as to Kappa 2000, Toronaos catamaran club,
and to the Helenic Rescue Service for the provision of their RIB and crew and to the other RIB guys. Without this the whole event wouldn't have been possible.

Fast Cat Round the Isle of Wight Race, 2001, 2002

Al and Pete's first sail on the Spitfire was in the 2001 Fast Cat Race. The start was a downwind leg with spinaker all the way to Bembridge ledge. They were surprised to be up amongst the good Hurricane guys and ahead of John Pierce on the Stealth. They went and blew this great start by sailing into the wind shadow off Culver Cliff. Once out of this they sped off to a building confused sea between Ventnor and St Catherine's point, where they were really impressed with the hull shape of the Spitfire which dealt with this sea with ease. Past St Catherine's the sea was flatter and they settled down for the 10 mile tack (yep, 10 miles on one tack!) to Freshwater Bay and the Needles. They were pleased to have closed the gap on the cats ahead. 

Once past the Needles, the fun started.  They hit 21.5 knots (recorded by GPS) as they reached through a huge standing wave just after the Needles. Then as they gybed it all went belly up as they capsized. Al left the boat, & found it un-nerving not being able to see much else but waves. A bit of fast swimming and prompt thinking by Pete, who came out on the mainsheet to meet Al halfway, got Al back to Paranormal, which they then righted with ease. Then it was up with the kite for some more blasting, until it came to the next gybe, where they promptly capsized again. This time Al discovered what the cause was - he was sitting on the mainsheet as he bummed across the tramp midway through the gybe - doh! Once the kite was bagged they righted Paranormal and set off for the finish. They were pleased to finish 51st on their first ever sail on the Spitfire in a time of 8hrs 20min (8.01.25 corrected).

In 2002 Al & Pete came back hoping to use their knowledge from 2001 to improve their performance. With 73 cats on the startline, they chose to stay out of trouble and have a conservative start. Once again they made up some places on the spi reach to Bainbridge. Once again they fell in the wind hole. Once again the sea roughed up off Ventnor. One of the rescue ribs came across to them and said to stay out as it was rougher right inshore. Al and Pete duly stayed out only to find the sea building, especially as they rounded St Catherine's about 1 mile off. Having radioed to the control gate they pressed on. At times huge standing waves just appeared from nowhere in front of them. Having no choice but to continue, they made steady progress, being really pleased with how Paranormal was handling the waves, across to the Needles. (At the finish other sailors told them that the sea had been flat right in close to the shore - doh!). Past the Needles they hoisted the kite and flew downwind, keeping to the shore of the mainland to stay out the tide as much as possible, and were soon catching other cats, whose crew were too tired to fly a kite. Unfortunately they pushed their luck whilst getting in close to the shore at Beaulieu. Pete's local knowledge turned out to be flawed - he had just said that the mouth of the Beaulieu river would be deep when they caught the bottom with the daggerboard and capsized. It turns out that their is a ledge at the river's mouth. Standing knee deep in water, Pete held Paranormal whilst Al bagged the kite. Between them, they righted, popped the kite back up and headed for the finish. This year they finished 57th in a slower time of 8hrs 27min (8.08.08 corrected) . A sign of the conditions was that 14 cats retired.

Hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight, the ARTI is a race for beach catamarans and high performance dinghies with asymmetric spinnakers. The course starts out of Fishbourne and goes clockwise around the Island, passing through gates at Sandown, Ventnor, Freshwater, and Yarmouth, to finish back at Fishbourne.

1999’s event, held in July, was the fourth of its kind, although on the first two occasions the course was shortened due to light winds. 1998 was the first year that the entire course had been completed.

Alan entered his Inter 20 ‘Spinal Frontier’ with Pete Lawson as crew. There were 47 catamarans entered, plus 11 dinghies. An 0830 start meant leaving Stokes Bay very early to sail across to the Isle of Wight for the start. At the start gun, the wind promptly dropped and it turned into a slog to Ryde Pier. A lot of boats headed out into the channel, some stayed inshore and Al and Pete stayed somewhere in between the two groups, which brought an early gain and they were 6^th boat to Ryde Pier. On drifting past here, the boats that had stayed out to sea got their break, getting just enough breeze to pull away. They tacked out accordingly and hoisted the spinnaker.

From then on it seemed that the boats out front carried some breeze round to the bottom of the island and those at the back lost what breeze there had been. It took them about 5 hours to get to the Sandown gate and the number of boats in sight (both in front and behind) seemed to have dwindled. The high-performance dinghies were given a shortened course here and turned back to Fishbourne. Al and Pete had a bit of a break at Ventor gate, where 8 cats had missed it and had had to turn back, just going through as they arrived. The first ones got away again, but they managed to hold off another Inter 20.

On clearing St Catherines Point, they finally got some good wind and enjoyed a wild reach all the way to Freshwater. They narrowly avoided a capsize in an unexpected gust and looked back to see the Inter 20 behind them capsize.

At times Pete was being pulled across the trampoline with the force in the sheet created by the 25 sq.m kite. Pete and Al were chuffed when the crew of the support boat at Freshwater gave them a big thumbs up for their hull flying under spi.

They soon got to the Needles and were just saying they would soon be back to the finish, when the wind went light and variable. Combined with the adverse tide, it seemed to take an age to get round the Needles. On rounding, they were rewarded with a fresh wind from the NE which held all the way to the finish and Al and Pete flew the windward hull all the way as they tacked back up the Solent. It was a great buzz passing large yachts and crossing ship’s wake with one hull flying.

They crossed the finish line after 10 hours and 23 seconds, 30^th overall, with one other cat finishing an hour and 10 minutes behind them, the other 16 cats having retired. Only four dinghies finished their shortened course.

The facilities for disabled sailors at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club are excellent and the club is well worth a visit.

Inspired by Dermot Mangan’s crossing of 7 hours 14 minutes from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead on a Dart 18, Alan and Pete decided to attempt the crossing in the other direction on the trusty Hobie 17 Turbo. Once again, lack of resources meant that it would be an unsupported trip – i.e. no safety cover.

They left Holyhead harbour at 0800 hours on 9th September 1996. The wind forecast was N/NE F4, occasionally F5, but was initially very light due to the nearby hills of the Snowdon range. Once further out to sea the wind was the top end of a F4, bottom of an F5 and they were soon sailing in large waves. The Hobie was surfing down these and burying its bows, so they opted to furl the jib. Approaching the half way mark, they had to make the difficult decision to press on or head back as the slow start meant there wouldn’t be time to sail back that day. Although they had a change of clothes and Al’s wheelchair strapped to the wings, the forecast was for F2 the following day, making the sail back impossible then as well. The alternative would be several ferry trips (one to get back and get the car and trailer and then to get back and bring the cat back), which was deemed unaffordable. Reluctantly they decided to head home. This meant turning back into the waves which they had just been surfing down (and which by now seemed to have grown considerably) and heading to windward in an adverse tide. The highlight of this return was passing yacht which was heavily reefed down. They arrived back at Holyhead after 8 hours of sailing, with some valuable open sea sailing under their belts.

One of Alan’s first sails with Pete (and one of Pete’s first sails ever) was on his Hobie 17 Turbo from Cumbria across to the Isle of Man.

Pete played the role of crew and spray deflector, whilst Dave Bowes provided shore support. Lack of funds meant that this would be an unsupported attempt, i.e. no safety cover. Having rigged up on the local beach at Haverigg, they set sail on September 1995? at 10 00 hours for the 40nm crossing to Laxey on the Isle of Man.

The wind started at F2 from the NNE, building to a F3 as they cleared the high hills of the Lake District, and then to the promised F4 just after they passed the halfway stage. Five hours into the trip there was an almighty crack. Neither Alan nor Pete could see anything amiss, so they continued pushing the boat, having convinced themselves that it was the chance noise of a wave.

It wasn’t until they were 1nm from the shore that they discovered what the noise had really been about. Alan glanced down at the rear crossbeam and realised it had cracked right round and only the top two inches of the section were left intact. They quickly dropped the main and sailed the boat gingerly in on the jib, with Alan and Pete sitting forward of the mast in case the boat folded up around them as the front beam had also started to distort. They beached at Laxey after 6 hours and 10 minutes on the water, with the planned return journey scuppered. Still, the buzz made it all worth while.

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