1979 fastnet race book

He won the round ireland race in 2000, second in 2002. After being rolled, pitchpoled, battered and half drowned, and. But within the space of 48 hours it had turned into every sailors worst imaginable nightmare. In august of 1979, nick ward began the 600mile course of the uks fa. Crews in the biennial event are frequently faced with bad weather, but in 1979 the fleet sailed into one of the worst storms ever to hit an ocean yacht race. A storm blew over the nearby irish sea two days after the start, pounding the fleet. In august 1979, 303 yachts began the 600mile fastnet race from the isle of wight off the southwest coast of england to fastnet rock off the irish coast and. There were 194 retirements and 24 abandonments five of which were lost believed sunk. In this book he recounts his experience aboard a yacht that competed in this. After the race, ker carried on racing, usually with alan as crew, competing again in the. Nick wards first hand account of the disastrous fastnet race in august 1979 is a compelling drama. John rousmanieres book is a useful, readable and throughly sane introduction to the basic facts, individual experiences and underlying issues of the 1979 fastnet disaster. Fastnet, force 10, however, was not as enjoyable for this reader as was the the proving ground.

Life and death lessons from fastnet the irish times. Sinead obrien the fastnet race is the world famous yacht race. A massive search and rescue operation was begun as half of the 300 yachts. A massive search and rescue operation was begun on august 1979 as half of the 300 yachts competing went missing in a 20,000 squaremile area of the irish sea. Captivating book with great description of individual yachts experiences as. Hundreds of competitors have been left stranded and there have been several reports. The untold story of the greatest disaster in modern. Sinead obrien left for dead is the tragic and inspirational account of nick wards survival against all the odds. Eine verschwiegene tragodie vom fastnet race 1979 o brien, sinead, ward, nick isbn.

A freak storm charged through the 1979 fastnet ocean sailing race off the coast of ireland. Fastnet yachtsmen remember 1979 mon, aug 16, 2004, 01. Paperback the fastnet race is the world famous yacht race from the isle of wight to the fastnet rock off the southwest coast of ireland and back. This gallery of pictures from the royal navys archives show the uks biggest ever peacetime rescue operation, during the fastnet race in 1979. Boats small and large were caught in the open and many were unable to escape. The 1979 fastnet race was the 28th royal ocean racing clubs fastnet race, a yachting race held generally every two years since 1925 on a 605mile course from cowes direct to the fastnet rock and then to plymouth via south of the isles of scilly. Under various owners, imp has raced in every round ireland since 1984.

Royal navy archive photos of the 1979 fastnet race. Freak storm hits yacht race dozens of yachts have been lost and at least three people killed after a freak storm blew up in the irish sea during the fastnet yacht race. In 1979the race took place in extreme conditions causing tragic loss of life and severe pressure on the race and rescue organisation. Uk and ireland commemorate 1979 fastnet race disaster. The night the sea showed sailors just how small we really. He was an onboard reporter for both the 1972 bermuda race and the infamous 1979 fastnet race, races in which both fleets experienced extreme heavy weather. Im not involved with the world of sailing, but his narrative is a real backdrop for any lay reader to the horrific circumstances of that race. For this is assent, the contessa 32 built by jeremy rogers in 1972 and the only boat in her class to finish the 1979 fastnet race, in the face of a storm which wiped out most of the fleet and. The book was an easy and exciting read and after reading these last few books on. It was a contessa 32 that escorted 15yearold solo sailor seb clover across the atlantic just last year. At the other end of the spectrum, imagine, a 1980 model, was sailed by 65yearold singlehander bill williamson across the atlantic and back a few.

In august 1979, 303 yachts began the 600mile fastnet race from the isle of wight off the southwest coast of england to fastnet rock off the irish coast and back. Imp, fastnet winner in 1977, and finisher in 1979, continues racing in the capable hands of george radley, based in kinsale, county cork. Kieron kennedy admits he was lucky to survive 1979 fastnet race there was a stunned silence as the seven crew members on checkmate stood by. The point made in the proving ground is that the 1979 fastnet race proved a lesson to the participants in the 1998 sydney to hobart race in staying with ones yacht unless it. The 1979 fastnet race was the 28th royal ocean racing clubs fastnet race, a yachting. This day in 1979 saw the worst disaster in the 100year history of ocean yacht racing, as a freak storm hit the fastnet race leaving 15 crew members dead. The fastnet race is the world famous yacht race from the isle of wight to the fastnet rock off the southwest coast of ireland and back. A freak storm charged through the 1979 fastnet ocean sailing race off the coast of. The story of the force 10 gale which decimated the 1979 fastnet race is dramatic and tragic but the ramifications for sailing continued to unfold for decades.

Open to yachts of up to 50ft lwl, rated through the boat racing associations measurement system, there are 15 entries but eventually only seven starters, all working boats. In 1979 matthew sheahan, aged 17, was racing his fathers yacht grimalkin in the fastnet race. The first fastnet race then known as the ocean race is conceived by weston martyr, after he competed in the 1924 bermuda race. After being rolled, pitchpoled, battered and half drowned, and believing the rest of the crew to be dead, he and two others had to make a crucial. The contessa 32 assent was the quiet hero of the infamous stormravaged 1979 fastnet race. The force 10 gale 48 to 55 knots and very large, confused seas hit the fleet of 303 boats that was racing from the southern england, around fastnet rock off the southern tip of ireland. He was a participant in the race on the yacht toscana. Left for dead goodreads meet your next favorite book. In august 1979, the 600mile fastnet race, which began in fine weather off the. The story of the force 10 gale which decimated the 1979 fastnet race, the last of the admirals cup events in that year. It is the experience of an ordinary man who survived an extraordinary event. The worst ever disaster in the sport of sailing occurred 30 years ago in the biennial fastnet race and claimed 21 lives bob fisher sat 8 aug 2009 19.

Books written by journalists are always a bit simplistic for me. The fastnet challenge cup is one of the most demanding courses in offshore racing. It had been nick wards childhood ambition to sail in the fastnet race, and after being asked to join the crew aboard the 30foot yacht grimalkin it. The interest comes from the fact that six started out on the nicholson yacht grimalkin and four survived. The previous two races had been uneventful and none of the sailors, among them former british prime minister ted heath and american cable tv. The yacht race from the of isle wight and around the. One of his most memorable competitions, potts says, was the disastrous 1979 fastnet race. In the aftermath of the race and the analysis published by john rousmaniere in his book fastnet force 10, many leading designers and sailors began to question the direction of design trends. Five star book of the 1979 fastnet race in which 15 sailors and 3 of the 4,000 rescuers. Thanks for a great book and a lifetime of caring for those who go down to the sea. Life and death lessons from fastnet wed, aug 11, 2004, 01. It was the 28th running of the race which has occurred roughly every 2 years since 1925. The 1979 fastnet race ended in tragedy after a freak storm hit competitors in all 15 people died and the exbritish leader edward heath went missing for a time the disaster resulted in a raft of.

The untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet race first paperback edition 2 paperback by nick ward 24 may 2008 5. Nick ward was on a relatively small yacht in the irish sea when the storm swept in, a dangerous situation which was compounded by the actions of his fellow crew and led to a lengthy ordeal. Published on sep 28, 2012 the story of the force 10 gale which decimated the 1979 fastnet race, the last of the admirals cup events in that year. The second edition of the sunday times sports book of the year is updated with a new chapter describing nicks eventual completion of the fastnet race thirty. Following the loss of life in the 1979 fastnet race we were. The race of 1979 began in perfect weather conditions but within 48 hours, the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing struck off the south coast of ireland. Founded in 1925, the sixday fastnet race follows a 608mile course to the fastnet rock, the most southerly point of ireland, and back to plymouth, via the scilly isles. We all like the idea of saving a bit of cash, so when we found out how many good quality used products are out there.

The august 1979 fastnet race, from cowes on the isle of wight in the english channel to the fastnet lighthouse off the south coast of ireland, started calmly enough for the 303 boats taking part. But the 1979 fastnet race was only the start of the assent legend. When a massive storm hit during the 1979 fastnet yachting race a crisis resulted. It is hard to believe that 40 years have past since the 1979 fastnet race. Watch the bbc reenactment of the 1979 fastnet race the tragedy that. Author john rousmaniere definitely knows his stuff. Ted turner was already an americas cup champion when he entered the 1979 fastnet race. Left for dead the untold story of the tragic 1979 fastnet.