Solo Racing Festival 2009

Vendee skippers Dee Caffari, Mike Golding and Brian Thompson on stage in a question and answer session was the highlight of the very successful Solo Racing Festival at Southampton on Saturday 28th February.

This was the third annual get together for single-handers organised by Racing at Petit Bateau and a packed house enjoyed some fascinating talks by solo skippers and the top designers Marc Lombard and Merf Owen.

Cowes Week weather man Chris Tibbs  began the day with a tour of the North Atlantic focussed on the issues involved in sailing through depressions in open waters and ice berg avoidance aimed at  this year's Ostar skippers and also the well travelled routes south for Mini Transat and Route Du Rhum fleets.

The audience was filled with seasoned Mini Transat skippers such as the 2001 cohort of Simon Curwen, Paul Peggs, and Brian Thompson but undaunted Oliver Bond related his Mini career so far and his podium finishes in all the mini races last season in France. As a member of the AVIVA  team his 'hands on' survey of the rocks close in shore at the Les Sables finish line was especially useful for Dee on her recent arrival.

Mike Golding opened the session after lunch with a key note address on the years solo racing activity, 2008 /9 seeing the most  racing  and media support in the history of the sport in all classes from Mini right up to IMOCA 60 in the Artemis Transat and the Vendee Globe where 4 Brits finished in the top 8.

Delegates had the first chance to hear from Marc Lombard,  France's most prolific designer and a graduate of Southampton 25 years ago. Marc designed the very succesful Figaro 2 for Beneteau, over 80 of which have been built and they provide the bedrock for France's domination of the solo racing world. The lone Brit in last years Solitaire de Figaro was Andy Greenwood and his account revealed just how seriouslythe stars take this class of racing. Michel Desjoyeux will be returning in its 40th edition this year, to sharpen up! 

Kate Miller had her Figaro 2 /bluQube/ on show in the pool and  described her  first win in our bluQube 1000 solo race last summer.Katies plans for the Ostar in 2009 have been boosted by the  financial support of her new sponsor and her racing mentors Ellen and Dee.

The final session was a double act for Alex Bennett, skipper of the class 40 Fuji Film and Merf Owen the boat's designer. Alex told the story of his successful Artemis Transat race in 2008,  first Brit, coming 6th behind  champions Halvard Mabire and ahead of Miranda Merron, both of whom were listening intently for any slight exaggerations.Alex's excellent race movie revealed the stress and exhaustion endured bysolo skippers at this level of pro racing and left several beginners wondering what they had got into ! Merf  discussed some of his ideas for the class 40. With 'Spliff' on show in the pool and the latest version 'RED' afloat in Hamble he has 10 boats now racing. Several designers in the audience were listening intently but no espionage was detectable.

There is no doubt that solo racing is expanding rapidly despite the economic gloom all around . The media opportunities are many, with race tracking and skipper blogs to bring the excitement of the race course into every household in the land. The sailors are keen to tell their stories of set backs as well as victories to a growing and expert audience.

The event was supported by Musto Clothing, Round TheWorld Foods at Gosport, The Daily Sail and Charles Bertrand of Fox Design studio, all of whom had representatives in the hall.

Many thanks to the members of Petit Bateau who worked very hard behind the scenes to make the day such a success.

Planning is already underway for next year’s event. If you would like to attend or perhaps take part as a speaker, trade representative or sponsor please contact Jerry Freeman.