I’m super excited about this!

I’ve been selected to participate in a new program from Wind Athletes Canada to participate in a program that will allow some Canadian sailors to go down to New Zealand and learn to sail an Open 60, O Canada (ex Spirit of Canada).

This is a wonderful opportunity for me, not just because I get to sail on Canada’s most bad ass boat, but even better, I get to work with some amazing sailors and coaches. The other members of the sailing squad are members of the Canadian Sailing Team and are training for the next Olympics. (I feel a bit the odd man out on this one, being the only offshore sailor in the bunch, but whatever, different people always bring different things to the team.)

Our coaches Dan Slater and Ed Smyth are both New Zealanders and ex-America’s Cup sailors. While a may be sailing a bit of different game then these folks, I am so excited to learn from them. Just a great opportunity to

As for the program, we’ll be doing some day sails out of Viaduct Harbour for the first few days as we learn the systems on the boat and then do a few days offshore and get into a watch system. (This is going to be simply luxurious for me! I never get to sleep more than 20 minutes when I’m sailing these days. I have almost forgotten what a four hour watch is like!)

I am so grateful to Wind Athletes Canada for making this a possibility. There are so few opportunities in Canada to expand experience in offshore sailing and I really applaud the effort to bring this type of program to sailors who are ready learn and expand their horizons.

I’m hoping to do some writing along the way on this so I hope that you’ll stay tuned to find out how it all works out!

Good News came from France this week.

I received word from the Classe Mini that my 1000nm qualification was approved by the committee. This is great news as I have the paper to prove that I am now halfway through my Mini Transat qualifications!

The boat is once again at Boat Services Kingston and I am starting to get my head wrapped around the work list for the spring. On the list: Bottom paint, splicing and replacing some running rigging as well as changing some block positions. Nothing major luckily.

John Clark and Andy Soper have my sails at the Kingston Sail Loft for a check up and some tweaks. I’m so grateful for their ongoing support.

The schedule for next season seems to be coming together and I think we are going to have an interesting year. More on this soon.

Better late than never…

The Whig published an article I wrote on the last trip to the Bahamas. You can find it here.

From Drop Box

On Sunday I drove down to New York state to meet Caj who drove the boat back from Florida. It was an easy trip across the border and the bridges. (Ok backing into the driveway is never easy…)

I’m in the process of emptying everything out and getting her ready for some paint and some rigging work. Should have her back in the water in a couple of weeks.

From Drop Box

Lindsey Fair and Greg van Rossem are putting together an art auction to help raise money for the sailing team. Here’s a description of the event:

This art auction will be like no other in Kingston. It will be a day to raise money for the Minimus Sailing Team (www.minimus-sailing-team.com) to compete in the Mini Transat race from France to Brazil with Nathon Baron at the helm. The art will be inside and under tents outside if weather permits, it will be a relaxed, but lively event with friends and art lovers. All auction items will have a water theme but can be any media, any size, any format.

We encourage everyone to spread the word about this event, but everyone will need an official invitation to attend. To get an invitation or get on the list let Greg V or Lindsey F know.

I think this is going to a great event; beautiful venue, lots of great art and of course all of the interesting people that make up the team, the artists and our community. Hope to see you there! If you are on facebook, Lindsey has the event posted. Otherwise shoot one of us an email and we will be sure to get you an invitation.

From MST 680

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Just wanted to let folks know that got the all clear from my doctor this morning.

I had a rather nasty bump on the head on the last leg coming across the Gulf Stream and I was a little more nervous than usual about. It’s bloody hard to diagnose the severity of a head injury when you are by yourself. (When you are alone you can’t really monitor pupil dilation, change in sleep patterns, etc.)

The doctor said I probably had a mild concussion and whip-lash and suggested physio or chiropractic to deal with the stiff muscles in the neck.

Makes me want to get more medical training…

More soon.

n

From MST 680

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Ola!

Sorry for the small pause in communicaitons from me over the last couple of days. I’ve been recouperating…

Since arriving in Miami I’ve been enjoying the good life ashore and trying to eat and sleep as much as possible. I must admit to feeling pretty beat up (you’ll see why in a minute) and I am really enjoying the couple days I’ve had over the weekend to recover. But this is all over tomorrow as we haul the boat and get her ready for the road again.

The leg from the Bahamas Bank to Miami was luckily not quite as ominous as Greg made it out to be. Crossing the Gulf Stream is never comfortable, but it wasn’t that bad even with 20-25 knots NE wind. (Which luckily diminished to 15-18 knots as I approached the US coast. The harbour was busy with commercial traffic outside and hords of pleasure boaters once I got inside the harbour.

In the early evening I had a terrible sleeping accident. I was trying to catch a 20 minute cat knap in the quarterbirth and had the step/ nav seat around my shoulder height. As I fell asleep, I must have been holding myself in place, because when I finally succumbed I slid across the bench and hit the leeward side of the cabin hard jarring me awake and bouncing my head off a bulkhead. Just another day of life inside the washing machine…

Ann Marie and Ray were waiting for me at Shake a Leg and after getting tied up and getting a couple of ice cold bottles of water into me, I spoke to a group of kids that were at shake a leg for the day and had some questions for me. The kids were super and it was an excellent way to be reintroduced to people again.

It’s been a nice couple of days as I nurse my wounds and clean up the boat. Having a couple of days to shift my head space has been good for me. Shake a leg is the perfect place to do this, as the community is so supportive and they know what it’s like to be up against a challenge.

As soon as I get back to Kingston I will get all of the photos and video up so you get the first hand experience. I always find it fun to go through all of this after a trip.

I wanted to send out a huge thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support and congratulations over the past few days. It’s been a very rewarding experience for me personally, but as always I am just the guy on the boat. the vast majority of the work is done back on the hard and as usual my team mates deserve more for cudos then me. I get to be the guy on the boat!

More when I get back to Kingston!

n

Friday, February 27, 2009
Dateline: Miami - Shake-a-leg Yacht Club

After 9 days at sea alone in a 21 foot boat Nathan has completed his 1000 mile qualifying sail for the MiniTransat race.

This is the message from minimus race central…

“It is 15:42 and Nathan just called from his cell phone…he is within 15 minutes of arriving at the dock where he understands the folks at Shake-a-Leg have arranged a little welcoming thing for him.

I’m sure we all wish we could be on the dock to catch his lines!!!!”

We all congratulate Nathan on this huge accomplishment.

Here are a couple of posts. One is from Greg von Rossem and the other from Alison Fraser and John Curtis minimus team central.

Some of the toughest sailing of Nathan’s ocean sailing career awaits…

Nathan has approximately 131 nm to the finish of his 1000 nm, circumnavigation of the Bahamas.

I spoke with him early this morning discussing his final approach to Miami. He was in good spirits, and was well rested, looking forward to the final and perhaps the most challenging stage of this leg, IE Gulf Stream.

It has been blowing NE for days which means that the waves have been piling against themselves in the steady 2-4 knt current, like standing rapids. The crossing will be difficult as the waves will be short in length and steep in height, with no pattern.

He is well aware of what lies ahead and has taken the necessary precautions of strapping everything down, above and below decks. He sees the sense of accomplishment waiting for him at the other side.

With the forecast winds predicting 10-15 knots from the NE/E he should be able to maintain his current speed of 6 knts throughout which will inevitably increase once he is in the Stream. His ETA will be approximately 21 hrs, which should bring him into Miami around 1400hrs on Friday.

Let’s wish him well!

Greg

Second post

Nathan ventured onto the Great Bahama Bank last night and is gearing up to cross the Gulf Stream in the next day or so. Yesterday, knowing that the conditions would take a great deal of mental and physical strength, Nathan inhaled a big freeze-dried meal and put a bag of trail mix close at hand. He experienced choppy waves and strong winds last night and these, coupled with a 2-3 knot current directly from behind, made it very difficult to steer. These conditions also make it challenging to sail based on apparent wind angle. Nathan still has lots of food and water on board and is in good spirits. He is understandably feeling tired and is looking forward to a good nights sleep, one in which he doesn’t have to be tending to sails, lines and autohelms.

click on the link below to check his most recent position report
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=23.5035,-78.6509&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

From MST 680

Here’s a forecast for Nathan’s return North. The question is how fast will the Gulf Stream elevator carry the Boys and Girls of Canada back to Miami?

Wednesday
Northeast winds around 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers.
Wednesday Night
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet near shore and up to 4 to 6 feet in the Gulf Stream. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers.
Thursday
Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Intracoastal waters choppy in exposed areas.
Thursday Night
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Near shore…seas 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less. In the Gulf Stream…seas 3 to 5 feet. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop.
Friday
East winds 10 to 15 knots becoming 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less near shore and up to 2 to 4 feet in the Gulf Stream. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop.