The Jester Challenge is a bi-annual event in which boats of under 30ft compete in a single-handed ‘race’ to Atlantic destinations.
In June 2008, the race is from Plymouth to the Azores. In June 2010, it leaves Plymouth for Rhode Island, America.
In a bid to recapture the very essence of ocean racing, there are no entry fees, no judges, no committees, no scrutineering, and no real limits, with the exception that all boats taking part should be under 30ft loa.. (Bigger boats can take part by invitation from the other competitors.) If you feel you and your boat are up to it, you’re welcome to join in.
The responsibility is totally on each skipper to set off fully prepared for the journey ahead.
To help with preparation, it is recommended that they compete a 500-mile non-stop offshore passage in the competing boat, to iron out any snags.
Last years Challenge saw 11 competitors leave for America, with two completing the trip. The rest withdrew at various stages due to gear failure or storm damage, but all made it safely home.
What appeals to PBO is that it gives ocean racing back to the ordinary yachtsmen, many on a tight budget. The competing boats are all modified cruising yachts – with several of them under 7 metres (22ft) loa. Some of the ideas for short-handed sailing we have seen have been ingenious.
So far, over 55 skippers have registered for the Azores race in 2008, and the entries are still coming in. Challengers for the Atlantic in 2010 are already in the 40’s.
Roger Taylor was a competitor in last years Atlantic Challenge in his junk-rigged Corribee 21 Ming-ming, and has summed this new forum up for us…
‘The Jester Challenge has been described as ' a modern experiment in old-fashioned skipper responsibility'.
This forum is for all those interested in the single- or short-handed sailing of small (typically under 30') boats over long distances. It is for those who value good seamanship over out-and-out speed, who want to take full and total responsibility for their conduct at sea, and who abhor the rules, regulations and general 'nannydom' that threaten our freedoms.
The forum is open for discussion and exchanges of information on any related topic, be it design, boat selection, planning and preparation, equipment, victualling, safety factors, routeing, heavy weather tactics - anything from the best boat to the best bottle-opener!
The accent is on developing self-sufficiency born of rigorous and uncompromising preparation, a full and realistic assessment of the risks of sea-going in small craft, all combined with good sense and good seamanship...’
More details of the jester Challenge can be found at . www.jesterinfo.org
Jake's asked me to post these pics from the start of the 2006 Jester Atlantic Challenge:
provisions stowed in Roger Taylors 21ft Corribee for his Atlantic Challenge
Bill Churchouse aboard his Westerly 22 at the start line.
Ming-ming, carrying an extra forward sail to supplement her junk rig. Note the two large oars that also double as a bow sprit, and the lack of an engine.
Peter Hill in Shanti. His 'minimal' Kingfisher 22 made it across to Rhode Island in 44 days.
Another reason why I shouldn't have sold my Splinter, I fear! That said, I am still seriously opposed to single-handed ocean sailing... However, as a 'safety professional', that's hardly surprising, is it?
__________________ But no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of Truth. (Francis Bacon)
On one hand, fatigue is an enormous problem, affecting one's ability to function effectively in any environment, let alone offshore yachting. You might argue that people should be allowed to put themselves at risk, and I would probably not take huge issue with that, so long as those involved are happy to be left to their ends rather than expecting rescue.
On the other hand, I disagree fervently with those who suggest that keeping a good lookout is something that can justifiably be excused the single-handed fraternity.
__________________ But no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of Truth. (Francis Bacon)
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.............You might argue that people should be allowed to put themselves at risk, and I would probably not take huge issue with that, so long as those involved are happy to be left to their ends rather than expecting rescue............
.............On the other hand, I disagree fervently with those who suggest that keeping a good lookout is something that can justifiably be excused the single-handed fraternity. ...............
[/ QUOTE ]
To deal with your first point. Granted that singlehanded yachtsmen do sometimes get into difficulties but do you know of any instance where one has shown any expectation that he/she is entitled to be rescued? Certainly they might let it be known that they are in difficulties and be very grateful if someone does help but that's a far cry from expecting help. Also do you know of any instance where some person or organisation has been unwilling to help; most people admire personal courage and are happy to do what they can to foster it.
Secondly, a singlehanded yachtsman in a small boat of the type used in the Jester Challenge offshore poses no measurable risk to anyone else's life or property. In the extremely unlikely event of him/her colliding with another yacht in the open ocean it will probably be going in the same direction, as determined by the wind, so it is only going to be a glancing blow. If he/she collides with a ship or a reef the only person who will suffer is the singlehander.
They also develop an awareness, or sixth sense, of what is going on around them which the molly-coddled majority never experience.
You say you are a "safety professional". You are therefore used to carrying out "risk assessments". Perhaps you would do one for us? I'm not being facetious here; it really would be interesting to have someone look at all the factors involved and tell us how risky offshore single-handed sailing really is to other parties.
When sailing singlehanded I always used to regard myself as the Maintenance Man !
Put simply that involved routinely inspecting all the gear for chaff or failure,having the knowleadge, ability and facilities to build ,or repair most any of the items on the boat or to have suitable replacements and backups to hand...to keeping energy levels up with superb cooking,the mind rested with intelligent reading and the body rested with plenty of quality sleeping and powernaps.....
To mention 'risk assessment examinations' for singlehanded offshore stuff etc is to me a bit of a larff...Ask Seastart who they routinely get called out to...It aint fatigued singlehanders,more like fully RYA qualified awb skippers with flat batteries who simply have to be somewhere on Monday morning...
I think PBO have hit on a winner with this forum.In an updated sense which reflects the enhanced capabilities of more recent small boats ,PBO has returned to its routes,to the spirit of editor Denny Dessouters original PRACTICAL,HANDS ON concept.
Well done Jake K !
Bonjour
I'm also a "safety man" I'm consultant in Civil Aviation safety at state and airports level.
I'm also the skipper of Sterenn and I participated to the Jester Challene and arrived at Newport in safe condition.
Fatigue is an issue but with preventing actions sleepping management technics... it is possible to manage it on long distance difficult sailing conditions.
The watch may be maintained on single handed : as the killing cargo takes more than 1/2 hour to sail from the horizon to your position if you go for a watch every 1/2 hours day and night the watch is asumed. Thats what I did for 31 days.
To be honnest I forgot to wake up a few times in the middle of the night.
Amicalement
Eric [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
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Pourquoi faire simple quand on peut faire complique ?
I sail single/shorthanded; have no interest in crossing oceans, but would welcome some shorter events in the spirit of the Jester Challenge, ie. no sponsorship, smaller boats etc.
I am aware of Petite Bateau events; they seem to be attracting boats generally over 40'
My 14 year old daughter took about 5 seconds to do a risk assessment on my entry in the JC 2010 and told me I was not allowed to go......
I was very tempted to say that there is no such thing as 'Not' ....but I decided that was a big mistake to say to such an intelligent girl as she will probably throw it back at me every day !
To achieve the most out of life somtimes you have to accept breaking the convention of rules (collesion regs).
I remember reading an article by a French yachtsman where he said that one should always sail as if one is single handed. Those of us who often take non sailing friends for a jaunt in the summer, realise the value of this approach.
Two years ago on a short trip south down the east coast in a new boat the weather blew up. The strong wind warning was not in place when I left. I made errors of judgement and became fatigued, and went aground on the Barrow sands and was towed off by the RNLI. If I wasn't so tired I would have thrown the hook out ( I had been out for 14 hours, stemming the tide for 6) and waited. The tide had turned in my favour and was rising. I was not proud of having to finally ask for help. However the whole experience has made me a better sailor in every way. I still single hand, but take less risks, pace myself, and allow for fatigue. Much less gung ho. This filters down into when I have crew on board. I think this forum will have much to contribute.
Don't feel bad John_Disney .... there are some people on here who go out of their way to be 'dicky opposite' no matter what the discussion - I suspect it comes from leading very boring lives!
If the actually have lives [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I mean to say, handle of 'Eon' and avatars of 'Neo'. Maybe life is best left 'virtual' with not too much risk, mind you, even virtual death in the 'Matix' was real enough [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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June too soon, July stand by, August it must, September? I can never remember... But I bet it's gonna be nasty [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
I am interested in taking part however although my boat is only 30ft loa it has davits and a bowsprit that make it 36ft loa is it still eligible. (It isnt high tech its a 44 year old maurice griffiths water witch. it hasnt got any guard rails or a pulpit either or electronics. and its wood
The Jester Challenge has no rules. And although some skippers that have nominated would not welcome a large boat, speaking for myself your boat at 30ft plus bowsprit and bumkin would be more than welcome. Contact Ewen Southby-Tailyour using the JC website and I'm sure you will receive the same answer. There is also a Yahoo Group for Jester Challenge participants and their friends and I'm sure there you would receive the same answer. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jesterchallenge/ You will need to ask to join this group to ask a question however. but that is not very hard and you will not get knocked back.
Our next race leaves on 31 May from Plymouth so you will need to move fast relatively.
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John Apps
'Glayva'
If it moves and it shouldn't use gaffer tape. If it doesn't move and it should use WD40.
I have alot of question, I am hoping to sail in the 2012 race but for sure the 2014, I have been around boats small trimarans monohulls. I am planing on getting a 22' boat soon and get it out fitted for crossing the Atlantic, my first big question is navigation, I will start classes soon for celestrial navigaton, what do you who have crossed the atlantic use, GPS, or less hight tech?
Bonsoir
i had 4 GPS on board. Two were boat batterie dependant and 2 spears were fully independant.
I think that gives a sufficient redundancy to forget any other navigation means.
Offshore a single daily fix is more than sufficient.
Eric
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Pourquoi faire simple quand on peut faire complique ?
Having just completed 2500 crewed miles in my own boat I had the pleasure of meeting Tim Mc Cloy last weekend and spending a couple of hours on China Blue. I was so impressed with the inginuity of design and strength by simplicity of Tims boat that reading the comments of the H & S department is just irritating.
Fair winds to all the entrants and I only wish I had the guts, and a smaller boat, to do it myself.
Welcome to the Jester Challenge forum
Hybrid Mode
