Dear Jesters, past, present and future,
As most of you will no doubt know, this year’s Jester Challenge was the first in which none of the entrants completed the voyage to Newport. This was not for want of trying or excellent seamanship on the part of every skipper. Conditions were exceptionally demanding and eventually took their toll on the yachts. Insuperable rigging, mechanical and electrical problems were the main cause of retirements – John Apps and Howard Chivers directly back to the UK, while Bernie Branfield and Andrzej Kopytko found safe haven in the Azores. Andrzej was well to the north-west of the Azores before being forced to retreat, which must have been especially galling for him, particularly as he had sailed all the way from Poland to take part. A big thankyou and congratulations to all the skippers for their participation and exemplary seamanship in difficult circumstances.
Planning is already well under way for next year’s Jester Baltimore Challenge, for which we already have nearly twenty provisional starters. Please enter via the Contact page. As we are trying to coordinate the event with either the Pirates’ Festival, if there is one (there wasn’t one this year), or, failing that, the O’Driscoll Clan gathering the following weekend, the start date, subject to approval by the QHM Plymouth, will be either Sunday18th June or Sunday 25th June. Hopefully there will be a Pwllheli start too. There have been reports of a reduction in anchoring space at Baltimore, due to more moorings being laid and an increase in lobster pots (possibly temporary). In principle there should easily be enough, although possibly less convenient, space for everyone, but we will monitor the situation next spring and advise skippers accordingly.
A summary of the results of the Insurance Survey we undertook earlier this year can be downloaded here.. There has not been any sign of improvement in the insurance position – in fact it still seems to be getting worse. See also a Note for Insurers that we have compiled, that can be used by anyone having trouble finding insurance, in the hope that it may be helpful in changing underwriters’ attitudes towards the Jester Challenge. It can also be downloaded here.
Following Igor Zaretsky’s participation in the 2018 Golden Globe Race, we are pleased to report that another Jester veteran, Guy Waites, is currently at sea in the 2022 Golden Globe. We wish him all the best for what will be a long and gruelling voyage.
We are also pleased to report that veteran Jester Denis Gorman is making slow, but nonetheless positive, progress following his serious illness. He is still restricted to a small number of specified visitors, but if you feel like sending him a card or greeting, which we are sure he will appreciate, his address is: Woodfield Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, Bodmin Community Hospital, Bodmin PL31 2QT.
Finally, a Royal Marine colleague of Ewen’s has a Jester-suitable 30-footer for sale. Contact the Jester Helm for details.
Best wishes to everyone for what remains of the 2022 season
The Jester Helm
Jester Challenge 