Newport 2010

The Jester Challenge to Newport, Rhode Island, 2010

Start off western end of Plymouth Breakwater, 1300 Sunday 23 May 2010.
Finish at a line extending due west (true) from Castle Hill Lighthouse on Newport Neck, Rhode Island.

Over the past two years I [Ewen] received 166 serious-sounding enquiries for the Jester Challenge 2010 to Newport, Rhode Island: over the months that followed this figure slowly whittled down to suggest that the number of likely starters could be in the 40 – 80 range.  Thanks to the nature of the event we did not know until ‘the day’ how many would actually arrive in Plymouth fully prepared to cross the Atlantic single-handed – although we did know that Alexei would start a little late thanks to ice in St Petersburg!   A glance at the experience of others who run such events suggests that this was about par for the course. We had the expected eclectic mix of nationalities represented, although the French were replaced by the Russians as far as numbers from abroad were concerned to join a Swiss and Kenyan. 

In the end 23 ‘went to post’;  ten made it safely to Newport (one restarting and reaching Newport in 2011), 14 retired and one, tragically – but thankfully with  no loss of life – foundered when, possibly, the closest to Newport and not far from the halfway point.  

Those that did not make it all the way may have felt that, for them, it was not a success – there were, inevitably, huge personal disappointments – yet all will have achieved personal milestones with, in some cases Jester Challengers  sailing further than the direct distance from Plymouth to Newport.  In overall terms, though, I believe that the Jester Challenge 2010 was a success not only because of the number of arrivals among such small vessels but because all exercised good, caring seamanship in reaching their individual destinations safely (sadly, but one) and to me –  as the skippers will all know from their pre-Challenge briefing – that is the most important factor.

The weather started brilliantly – maybe too brilliantly – and then offered a serious rhum line/Azores route split with, by and large, testing and contrary conditions to the north with fair and contrary conditions to the south (plus a good share of thunderstorms).   I know of  no one who took the great circle route nor the ‘deep south/trade wind’ route – although Tony came pretty close!  Most, somehow, managed to go straight ‘down the middle’ while one or two swopped from one to t’other.  It is fascinating to note that the first to arrive, Igor in his  ‘conventional sloop’ The Grand  via the rhum line, was less than a few hours ahead of Rory in his tiny catamaran Cooking Fat via the Azores. An idea of other routes taken, plus timings and skippers diaries, will be found in the attached comprehensive Sitrep. 

Reasons for retiring were varied, honourable and all executed in good time and a  seamanlike manner: they, too, can be re-visited on the attached Sitrep.  I must, though, mention one who had every reason to retire over a lengthy period but who refused to give in to a seriously debilitating infection – rather than structural damage – and that is Roger Fitzgerald (by far the oldest Jester Challenger to date) in his Ella Trout III: a noble effort, as was Roger Taylor’s lengthy return in Mingming from icy waters with a broken rib.  Mention, too, should be made of the equally irrepressible Bill Churchouse who fell overboard from his Belgean then, having recovered himself unaided, wisely decided to put back.  The tragic loss of Amadeus and the text-book recovery of Andy Lane is also covered in the Sitrep.

Trevor’s disappointment at not making it to Newport in Jester is, understandably, absolute but this must be tempered by the knowledge that he scattered Mike Richey’s ashes in mid-Atlantic where they belong and where the family wished them to be.

Our thanks to the Commodore and staff of the Royal Western Yacht Club as well as the Queen Anne’s Battery team for all they did, and to Commodore Norm Bailey for his comprehensive support, guidance and help together with the hospitality of the Newport Yacht Club.

Event Tracking

If you can’t see the active map, see this photo.

Starters

Skipper	Yacht	type	LOA	Finish
Alan Rees	Argus	Hunter Europa Mk II	20’6″	Retired
Alexei Fedoruk	Fason	Modified Olympic Dragon	29′	17/07/2010
Andy Lane	Amadeaus	Archambault Coco	21′	Retired
Bill Churchouse	Belgean	Westerly 22	22′	Retired
Chris Garbett	Jasabe	Twister	28′	Retired
Chris Jackson	Sixpence	Albin Ballad	30′	Retired
Dave Graham	Astro	Folksong	25′	Retired
Denis Gorman	Lizzie-G	Albin Vega 27	27′	09/07/2010
Duncan Lougee	Vaquero	Rival	31′	Retired
Gus Davidson	Just Right	Golant Gaffer Gaff Cutter	20′	Retired
Guy Waites	Red Admiral	Contessa	26′	22/07/2011
Igor Zaretskiy	The Grand	Peterson 25	25′	26/06/2010
John Apps	Galyva	UFO27	27′	11/07/2010
John Margarson	Fluffy	Beneteau Figaro One	30′	Retired
Michail Soldatov	Gerda	Albin Vega	27′	06/07/2010
Nigel Stillman	Grettal	Kingfisher 30	30′	Retired
Roger Fitzgerald	Ella Trout III	Dehler 29	29′	27/06/2010
Roger Taylor	Mingming	Junk-rigged Corribee	21′	Retired
Rory McDougall	Cooking Fat	Wharram Tiki	21′	26/06/2010
Scott Turner	Altamira	Westerly Club Cruiser	21′	Retired
Thomas Jucker	Marta	Bristol Channel Cutter 28	28′	04/07/2010
Tim McCloy	China Blue	Junk-rigged Folksong	25′	Retired
Tony Head	Triple Venture	Twister	28′	04/07/2010
Trevor Leek	Jester	Junk-rigged modified folkboat	25′	Retired

(Some) Finishers

Gallery

Diaries and Reports

Click to download the comprehensive sitrep, which includes skippers’ positions and diaries.

Rory McDougall, OCC Jester Award Winner, 2015
The Jester Medal, awarded to a member or non-member of the Ocean Cruising Club who has made “An outstanding contribution to the art of siglehanded sailing” in a vessel of 30ft or less overall” … despite the small size and slightness of his boat, only missed out on being first to Newport by a few hours in 2010… Read more