Final Preparations - David’s still smiling - 19th September 2008
As we reach the final week in the UK, the jobs lists are on everyone’s mind. There is still a lot to do to get the boat absolutely ready for check in on the 30th September. Compliance with the Off Shore Regulations and Notice of Race is no small task with safety equipment arriving every day to be installed, stowed, registered and understood all in the hope that we never have to use it. Ben from Ocean Safety was on board yesterday hand delivering the last of our strobe lights – thank you – and commented on all of the toys but you never want to play with them! Mark – Eastern Electronics – is working through a list of modifications to the communications, installing a wind turbine, lights, pumps and goodness knows what else. The man doesn’t sleep, he just works away tirelessly! David (pictured) is co-ordinating the remaining boat preparation, replacing and moving blocks, fitting the new furler (the replacement has arrived – this is not an invitation to the thief that stole the last one), replacing various lines, new pumps, just about everything. Pip has been working like an ant, backwards and forward to the boat with boot-loads of food, clothing, various kit and today spent the morning with Chris Tibbs discussing the weather for the trip down to Portimao and the ongoing process for the race. It’s all happening and who could imagine that in less than 24 hours we’re off!!!!!
Southampton Boat Show – 12th September 2008
Well, what a day. Suzie – Silver Thread communications – met us at the On Deck stand for our last UK pres conference. Conversations were flowing as the Ambition Racing story was relayed to the media. Mike and Dave – Dog Tag Insurance – joined us to present us with our Dog Tags and various jackets and bits and pieces but most importantly our sponsored off shore insurance for the race. The level of reassurance and peace of mind their generosity has allowed is unimaginable and it will be difficult to ever let them know how grateful we are. Bob and Duncan from Jeffrey Crawford helped to cover the number of journalists, telling the story and explaining the details of the race, I think they are, along with Dave and Mike, extended members of the Ambition Racing team. As the press conference drew to close we were bowled over when Sarah Webb – Yingling Gold medallist – joined us to share with us what she felt we would need to get through such a challenge; teamwork and determination. As Sarah wished us luck and promised to welcome us home next year, Mike and Charlotte Williams – On Deck – both joined us to close off a perfect afternoon. Much like Jeffrey Crawford, On Deck had the confidence to back us at an early stage of our project and have been there ever since supporting us with every piece of training needed to prepare us to qualify and now take part in the Portimao Global Ocean Race. Without the quality and availability of that training, one thing is for sure, we wouldn’t be as ready as we are, nowhere near, by far.
Sponsors sail with Team Mowgli - 11th September 2008
Duncan Campbell and Bob Crawford of Jeffrey Crawford arrived on Wednesday evening to sunny Gosport in readiness for a day’s sailing on Mowgli with us the following day. Jeffrey Crawford were one of our first sponsors showing early signs of confidence that Ambition Racing is going to live up to its name. After a seafood supper and some fine wine a fairly early night prepared us for a day on the water……the number of these meals remaining is fast approaching single digits. We had a light north westerly breeze and headed out to the Nab tower with Duncan first to take the helm. There was a twinkle in his eye and a look of contentment as I guess he pondered taking a year out himself to sail the seas! Boats speeds were shouted as the morning went on and you could tell Duncan was enjoying the fun. With nearly 9 knots Duncan had managed to almost match the wind speed. Bob, who had remained quiet with thoughtful questions on safety and procedures on board, took the helm as we tacked round at the Nab tower. With a slight increase in breeze and sea state Bob managed to smash Duncan’s record with a cool 10 knots, the victory was had within minutes. A quietly competitive pair, you could see Duncan was desperate to get back on the helm. We agreed to leave the rematch to Portimao where we look forward to seeing them again.
Successful Qualifier! - 13th August 2008
Team Mowgli have successfully completed their compulsory qualifying passage in the face of non- stop gale force winds. It was no easy ride.....
We had food, water, fuel and supplies for 17 days, 2000 miles could take anything from 7 days to 3 weeks. As we set off we knew this trip would be the make or break for team Mowgli, this was the qualifier. We had spent the last couple of evenings preparing for the trip with Alex Thompson (Hugo Boss), Alex's advice was take a route dictated to by our new weather routing software and go as swiftly and safely as possible. What that really meant for us was, you don't know where you're going and you don't know how long it will take you!
Cowes week was in full flow as we left and we were distracted as we passed down the east coast of the Isle of Wight when Alex came speeding round on Hugo Boss with his competitors hot on his tale. A few minutes they were gone and we were on our own again, off on our adventure.
The wind was up at about 25 knots and we would be sailing close hauled for the next 2 - 3 days as we sailed out passed Lands End. Mowgli is a beautiful boat but she really isn't designed for upwind sailing. As we hit each wave there would be an almighty bang as her bow tried to cut the wave, couldn't, and then ended up slamming down onto the sea. Absolutely deafening and as you lay in your bunk the noise compounded and you were left wondering when the rig would come down from the loads. It didn't.
We settled quickly into watches, 3 hours on and 3 hours off and gradually came to terms with living in the ocean. Food was the least exciting part of the day with little to whet the appetite in terms of taste, texture and aromas. Chocolate became staple and coke was regularly consumed for breakfast.
As we passed Lands End and our software told us to alter course by 90degrees we went from the deafening experience of upwind sailing to a flat and quiet boat surfing downwind. It was like the asprin had just kicked and the pain was no more.
Disaster struck about 4 days in when we switched the engine on and it conked out. We had just had it serviced and really didn't expect it to let us down. Jeremy spent hours in the engine locker trying to bleed it and get it turning over, it just wouldn't. We called Pip, our shore lifeline and very dear friend, to facilitate the experience needed to get the thing working again. He was brilliant and within minutes we had a prognosis which wasn't good, we would need to head back. The prospect of no power within 24 hours was daunting, to have to sail based on traditional navigation skills learned in a classroom and never applied for real, was too awful to contemplate. We didn't even have the hand held GPS. Pip contacted Josh and he agreed the right thing to do was to head back for land, and to only concern ourselves with the missed miles for the qualifier once we were safe.
Jeremy persevered anyway and to this day we don't know what caused it, but as we set about coming home and tacked over to port, he saved the day as the engine finally started working. Hooray, it is now fondly referred to as Bush the engine (would you vote for it?). Back on to qualifying....
We studied the weather endlessly and knew that whilst downwind speeds were entertaining us we had a huge low pressure coming in and before long we would be facing 35 knots plus.
It did, and boy did it hit. We cut watches to 2 hours, agreed to helm at all times rather than rely on the autopilot. As the winds increased so did the seas and I vaguely recall at some point around 5pm one afternoon the excruciating pain of hitting the cockpit floor as a wave hit me from behind and knocked me off the tiller. Talk about timing, a few dolphins popped their heads up as I fought back the tears.
We alternated through watches in the darkness both not speaking but knowing the fear we were feeling was mutual. At about 2.30am I woke up to a knock down which is quite possibly the most petrifying experience in my short sailing career. Minutes later came the crash gybe and it felt like the world was going to end. But it didn't and its amazing what you can do, the strength you can find when you need it. Within minutes, checks completed, boat on course and the two of us were huddled up in the sulk holes agreeing to switch to auto pilot and stay on watch together until it had died down.
And it went on, occasionally dropping to 25 knots and then back up again, and then down again. We deliberated sail changes endlessly, it was a fine line between speed and safety. Team Mowgli were being tested, tested, tested.
The final chapter of this passage was the last 24 hours. Still in 25 knots of wind we put a reef in the main, Mowgli was feeling overpowered in the gusts. There followed huge disappointment as the Genoa which we had almost wrapped in cotton wool most of the journey tore in two at the top. Down she came, and the staysail back up. Still reeling from the torn headsail Victoria gybed the boat accidentally. In trying to recover the situation the boat gybed back, splitting the main in half, in ten minutes we'd lost the Genoa and the main. In silence we dropped the main, that was a battle itself, and contemplated what to do next. The 10 knots we had been travelling at became 5 knots and the last 100 miles seemed like another 1000 miles to face without the mainsail. So the sewing bag came up on deck, with both of us clipped on one each side of the boom we sewed approximately 300 stitches to repair the main. It required patience, determination, balance and willpower. 5 hours later the main was ready to go up We held out, waited for the wind to drop and to ensure we had minimum manouevers to put the sail through whilst it was up. As we came up towards the Isle of Wight where our journey began the main went up and we stared, hoped and prayed it would last.
The Needles are beautiful but when you work so hard to get to them and you finally see them, they take your breath away. We screamed past them doing 12 knots and gybed all the way up the Solent.
And then finally for good measure as we approached Portsmouth we experienced 42 knots as we tacked round. Pip was there on the pontoon to catch our lines and take us for a well earned breakfast.
Team Mowgli had qualified and the feeling of elation and pride can not be put in to words.
Ready for the Qualifier - 4th August 2008
Finally we - Mowgli and her crew - are prepared to embark on our 2,000 compulsory qualifier and we aim to set off at 1000 on Tuesday 4th August. Originally we had hoped to do this passage by completing a circuit of the British Isles but sadly the winds and time are just against us. Current forecasts show that we would be facing the wind all the way up the west coast of Ireland and Scotland and not only would this take us longer to get round but it wouldn't be good training for what is essentially a downwind race. So plans have changed and we now intend to head out into the Atlantic passing well south of Ireland and aim to track down some of the exciting weather systems we know are on the way. By the end of this week we hope to have picked up a strong low pressure system that will test both the crew and the good ship Mowgli and give us some of the serious ocean training that we are looking for.
Friends and Family Weekend - 2/3 August 2008
With Mowgli finally ready to sail once again we all had a lovely weekend introducing her to some of our nearest and dearest. Two of Jeremy's sons, Oliver and Toby, and Vicky's twin sister Alex were introduced to sailing for the first time ever - and all being filmed by our trust cameraman Clive Lonsdale for the upcoming documentary series. Sadly the long unbroken spell of glorious weather in the south came to an abrupt end and we had an overcast weekend but with good steady 15 knot winds - perfect for introducing our loved ones to sailing with anything being too scary! An emotional departure with them all on Sunday evening as we prepare for our qualifying sail.
Mowgli Refit finally finished! - 1 August 2008
Apart from a few finishing touches, we have finally finished the most traumatic period in Mowgli's life! We pulled her apart and slowly and painstakingly rebuilt her making lots of improvements along the way. We have installed new wiring throughout and have doubled up on all our essential equipment from autopilots to satellite telephone systems - I do belive we now have more electronics than NASA! Still a few things to do to finally prepare Mowgli for her around the world race but these shouldn't per her out of commission or us off our training for any more extended periods of time.
Mowgli Refit gets underway - 14 July 2008
We took Mowgli into Endeavour Quay in Gosport to have her mast lifted out on Monday morning so the riggers can check all the fittings and replace some worn sheaves at the top of the mast. This also means we can fit new electronics to the top of the mast and apply our new graphics while the mast is down. Much easier!
We are now in the process of installing the new watertight bulkheads and putting in additional electronics including an Iridium satellite phone system, spare autopilot and upgrading the wiring throughout the boat.
Scary to think this is all meant to be finished by the end of next week so we can get training again in time for our round Britain and Ireland qualifier passage!
 Off comes the mast.. |  Looking very bare and strange! |
 Top bulkhead fitter! |  Oh my God!! |
| Plans for Mowgli's Refit - 5 July 2008 Mowgli needs to be upgraded to comply with ISAF Category Zero rules for boats sailing in the Southern Oceans and this means installation of new watertight bulkheads and upgrades to our electronics. Planning is well under way - even if it means plenty of cardboard engineering! We are very fortunate in having Mark Wylie and Dave Thomson joining our team - these guys have huge experience in preparing boats for round-the-world sailing. |  |
Lands End in a Storm! 2 July 2008
Jeremy and Victoria had a successful if very windy trip from Gosport round Wolf Rock, just west of Lands End over 3 days. We had consistent force 6 to gale 8 winds with us all the way and the wind seemed to veer or back whenever we changed course meaning that it was on our nose most of the way there and back! The trip proved to be a great test of our three on/three off watch system although cooking proved to be hard and we need to review the type of food we are taking for this sort of weather. 525 miles in just over 72 hours means that we have now passed 2,000 miles on Mowgli.
Mowgli goes to Plymouth 21 June 2008
Double handed sail down to Plymouth - new speed and distance records for Mowgli. Jeremy and Victoria had their first real taste of double handed longer distance sailing and took Mowgli out for two days down the English Channel to Plymouth. We had consistent force 6 -7, occasionally force 8 gales and this meant we covered the miles in much faster time than expected. We broke the 200 miles in 24 hours barrier and recorded a new top boat speed of just under 15 knots.
Mowgli goes to France - 7/8 June 2008
Jeremy and Victoria had a great trip over to Cherbourg on our fantastic Class 40 yacht 'Mowgli' over the weekend as part of our ongoing training programme. We set sail on Friday night and crossed the Channel with 20 -25 knots of wind on our beam doing an average of about 10 knots. We broke our own personal best boat speed on Mowgli - topping 14 knots. Early into Cherbourg and time for a quick sleep and some lunch before a slightly slower trip home.Mowgli had a dirty bottom! - 1 June 2008
Jeremy and Victoria knew she was dirty but not quite how bad! We took her over to Sealift2 in Cowes today where their fantastic machine lifted Mowgi out of the water and the lads got to work with power hoses and scrapers to remove seaweed and barnacles from Mowgli's hull.
Already we are noticing at least a knot of additional boat speed and this will make our training much easier as we can measure our performance against the theoretical maximums speeds we should be achieving for different wind speeds (polars). 
Official Race Entry - 27 May 2008
Ambition Racing Ltd are delighted to announce that they have now formally entered Jeremy Salvesen and Victoria Sanders-Perrin into the Portimao Global Ocean Race and that the race entry fee has been paid. So, fully committed now....
Training Update - 27 May 2008
Mowgli is making waves in Gosport and the Solent and already seems to be attracting quite a fan club as we go about our daily training sails. The eye-catching graphics really make her stand out and (online confession time!) we are becoming really quite attached to her style and character. Having said those graphics must go, we have to admit to falling in love with her as she is and now really want to keep her as she is if possible. Everyone says it is bad luck to change the name of a boat anyway...
Training has been good with variable weather over the last 10 days or so since we arrived back from France and we have really been spending the time getting to know her better - and fixing some of the small things that inevitably go wrong.
Looking forward to Jaz (our coach) joining us full time from Monday next wek and getting going with some serious structured race training.
Mowgli arrives in the UK - 16 May 2008
Jeremy and Victoria travelled to France on Friday 9th May and spent a few days preparing Mowgli for the sail back to the UK. We had our first day sailing on her with the well known French sailor Yvon Berrehar on Sunday 11th May. We were fortunate in having glorious sunshine and light winds meaning that we were able to work our way through the entire sail locker and work out how everything on our new boat works.
On Monday 12th May we were joined in France by Pip Williams (chairman), Jaz Lamb (coach) and Clive Lonsdale (cameraman for Goldhawk Media). After a good dinner and an early night we set sail at 6am on Tuesday heading for Portsmouth. The first day saw bright sunshine with strong south easterly winds blowing from behind. We had some glorious hours of flying our spinnakers and reached a top speed of nearly 13 knots in 22 knots of wind.
The wind then died back for a while overnight before moving round to a north easterly direction and building further to Force 7 gusting gale force 8. This meant wind right on our nose and very rough seas in the English Channel. With 2 reefs in the mainsail and the staysail set we were still beating to windward at nearly 9 knots.
On Thursday the wind died back again and we were becalmed in thick fog for a while before finally making it into Portsmouth at about 3am on Friday 16th May.
We were all thrilled at how Mowgli performed in the wide range of conditions and we are both looking forward to getting on with our training programme.
Jeremy and Vicky come 2nd in class in Warsash Spring Series - 28 April 2008
Following their success with Jaz in the winter series, Jeremy and Vicky have been out all spring on the Cork 1720 competing in the Warsash Spring Series racing. In a series beset by poor conditions - everything from heavy snow to hail and thunder and lightening storms - they have achieved a creditable 2nd place out of the six boats competing in class. Looking forward to putting small boat sailing behind them and getting onto their new boat in a couple of weeks time.
Major new media deal announced - 20 December 2007
Full details on our media page.
Completion of Yachtmaster Oocean Theory - 10 December 2007
In further preparation for their entry into The Portimao Global Ocean Race, Jeremy and Victoria both passed the Yachtmaster Ocean Theory exams over the weekend in Cowes - covering astro navigation, worldwide meteorology and ocean passage planning. Ably taught in this interesting subject by Pete "Stokey" Woodall, Victoria managed a score of 100% in the astro exam - something not achieved on one of Stokeys courses for at least 4 years. Well done her!!Astro Navigation on board the Pride of Bilbao Ferry - 1 December 2007
Jeremy and Victoria spent a long weekend on board the ferry gong from Portsmouth to Bilbao and back again (with just enough time for a cup of coffee in Spain!) learning the seafarers art of astro navigation using the sun and the stars with the aid of a sextant. We were fortunate in having the (in)famous Pete "Stokey" Woodall as our trainer for the weekend - there are very few people who know as much on the subject as he does. All part of our Ocean yachtmaster qualifications. Have a look at Stokey's website at International Ocean Services.
| Becalmed on a Keelboat! (4 November 2007) Jeremy and Victoria spent a third weekend out on the Cork 1720 keelboat. These boats are really desinged for sailing with a crew of 5 but we successfully managed one with just the two of us on Saturday before our coach joined us on Sunday for another day of intensive training. We were beset by light winds for most of the weekend but of course that is where so many races are won and lost - you can easily double your boat speed in light airs with good boat and sail trim but of course you can't make that much difference in stronger winds. Another excellent weekend and looking forward to racing next weekend. |  A Cork 1720 |
| Weekend Racing! (11 November 2007) Jeremy and Victoria were out all weekend again on the Cork 1720 sportsboat and finally managed to get into some racing on Sunday as part of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series. Gusting over 25 knots and with only 3 of us on a boat designed for 5 we were always going to be at a disadvantage to the other boats in the class. However we did well under the circumstances and it was an excellent way to put into practice all the training we have done over the last three months. |
Double Handed Sailing Article by Josh Hall - 15 November 2007
Download PDF Article here - "Double Trouble". What's it like to be a double handed team in The Portimao global Ocean Race?
Double Handed Sailing (8 October 2007)
Jeremy and Victoria set off for the first time as a double handed crew on a 40' yacht on Sunday - a Beneteau First 40.7 from Ondeck Sailing. Not much wind out in the Solent but great to be out there on our own. Plenty of exercises including single handed man-overboard drills - a challenge to do on your own! Still, good start to their training for The Portimao Global Ocean Race.
Whilst down in Gosport we were thrilled to see Ocean Warrior/Kazimir, the first production boat from Express 40, in the water looking beautiful - have a look at the picture on The Boat page. The yard is now well on with laying the hull for boat number four - and we are boat number 7!
Keelboat sailing in the Solent (27 October 2007)
Very wild and windy weekend out of Warsash in the Solent on a Cork 1720 keelboat. Designed to be sailed by 5 people, we got on pretty well with the two of us and our coach Jaz Lamb. Race training drills all day on Saturday in preparation for racing on Sunday - practicing mark-roundings, tacking and gybing on the lay lines on a windward/leeward course. Wind blew up considerably on Sunday - gusting 35 knots on Bramble Bank so racing for the white fleet (smaller boats) was cancelled. Still, we had some exciting sailing at speed on very busy waters. Another excellent training weekend - more of the same to follow!
| Training gets under way! (3 September 2007) Jeremy and Victoria spent a second weekend dinghy training at Port Edgar just outside Edinburgh. Working with a full time instructor on a Laser 2000 to a detailed programme put together by coach Jaz Lamb, they spent 10 hours on the water over the weekend mastering the skills of tacking and gybing a high performance dinghy with asymmetric spinnakers. These skills will be invaluable when transferred up to larger, faster boats. |  Instructor Ewan Sneddon |
 | Wet and windy in the Firth of Forth (10 September 2007) Another weekend hard at training in Laser 2000's. Saturday was glorious with light winds and flat water and we worked hard at sailing a triangular course accurately and fast. Sunday was much wilder blowing up to force 6 in the afternoon. Our instructor moved out of his rib into another Laser so we could match our performance against theirs. The weather worked against us with both crews ending up the water on several occassions. Very fast spinnaker work downwind and overall great progress. Looking forward to Jaz Lamb (coach) joining us next weekend! |
Coach puts us through our paces! (17 September 2007)
Good day on the water on Saturday with 25 knots of wind leading to a lot of swimming and hard work from Jeremy and Victoria. Jaz was with us all the way in a RIB shouting instructions and pushing us hard! Not the best weather to show off our new found skills but clear that good progress has been made. Sunday presented much lighter winds with plenty of rain but did mean that we were able to achieve more rather than just battling the elements. Plenty of homework set..
Boat Maintenance Course 24-28 September 2007
Jeremy and Victoria were joined by our chairman Piers Williams for a week at the OnDeck classrooms in Gosport for a week's intensive training on boat maintenance run by our trainer Ian Jinks. The course was very hands on and covered basics such as diesel engine maintenance, electrics, plumbing (how to clear blocked heads!), rigging, splicing ropes, sail mending etc. This was the first time OnDeck had run this course and it was truly excellent - we would have no hesitatation in recommending this to anyone interested in learning these basic but vital skills. Contact Ian Jinks by email at ianjinks@ondeck.co.uk