Ten years Re Union, Thursday 14th January 2010.

40 happy sailors gathered at the Master Gunner in Finsbury place in the City of London to mark the tenth anniversary of the first meeting of Petit Bateau solo racing group. Most of the original founder members were present, Diana Holder had organised our first e- group in 2000 along with extra hairy Donald ‘brave heart’ McHardy owner of the trimaran Fiery Cross, very fiery, very cross. Fellow scot captain Stuart MacDonald had jetted in from South Korea to buy us all a beer. Charles Allen was our very first web master and has done many days service as PRO in the start box at Gurnard over the years, Charlie is our contact with the establishment at the Institute of Navigation but he got there ok.  Apologies were not received from Harry Vogel or Jason Baggaley

This group had met first at the Earls’ Court Show for the press launch of the 2000 Ostar, the last of the great races as it happened. 70 boats entered including all the big names of the time;  Joyon, Parlier, Desjoyeaux, Guillemot, Golding, MacArthur, Jourdain, Gautier There were twenty four IMOCA 60 s trying to qualify for the Vendee globe and 6 big tris, presenting the most impressive display of sailing boats ever gathered in Plymouth and sadly never to be repeated. Visit the RWYC website for more details. We few of class 5, the 30 to 35 footers, felt rather insignificant and abandoned amongst all this money and glitz so we formed a self help group communicating via e-mail, to share the many fears and few ideas over the 5 months before the start.

The name Petit Bateau arrived in February 2000 via a label in someone’s underpants, we were very nearly called Jester, but she was class 6(25 to 30ft) so the pedants won the day and that was a very lucky escape as it turned out.

Special guests on Thursday included the veteran Peter Crowther with 7 Ostars to his name, so far, and Colin Drummond, founder of the AZAB race (with Andrew Bray) which at its first edition in 1975 attracted over 50 single-handers, a record at the time, exceeded only by Ostar 1976. The appetite for solo racing in Britain was at its peak in the 70’s and 80’s.  Colin confirmed that AZAB 2011 has already attracted over 90 entries and the 1200miles of open ocean remains a must do for all solo and double handed racers.

We have rebranded the race organising company to Solo Offshore Racing Club ltd and Race director Peter Olden (Archambauld A35) has set out an exciting programme for the 2010 season. We are very fortunate to have the services of Dave Giddings as Principal Race Officer, veteran of many years with the RSYC, Dave will be looking for volunteers to assist in the start box and the committee boat throughout the season, a very valuable experience for all budding PRO’s. 
Many of the sailors had enjoyed a warm up at the Round Britain and Ireland race meeting in Excel, courtesy of Hannah White on the Helly-Hansen stand. The racing communities overlap and two parties for the price of one rail ticket was very efficient, planned or just lucky? Major (RM) John Lewis welcomed all the crews and introductions were shared over a splendid glass of wine as the first skirmishes were exchanged in what promises to be another hard fought 2000 miles of hell.

Special thanks to Rod Knowles ( J105 Juliette) for organising the evening, food and venue at the Master Gunner and no doubt we will be there again in 2020, put the date in your diary Harry.