by Mary Rook | Sep 3, 2017 | Uncategorized
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my wonderful friends and followers for all your awesome support over the last 10 years, it has been an extraordinary journey and one I am proud to have been through. After this summer of yachting I have decided to leave the world of professional boating and take the life altering decision to become a secondary school science teacher! Professional...Read more
by Mary Rook | Jul 5, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear my faithful followers, we have now reached the last and final Leg…. Leg 4 again started from the beautiful bay of Concarneau, but this time we had hardly a breath of wind and a heat wave 35 degrees to contend with. Finally we started and I got a great start and rounded the windward mark in a good position in the front group. About 3 miles out of...Read more
by Mary Rook | Jul 3, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear fantastic followers here is my previously unpublished breakdown of Leg 3. This was very hard to write and I hope shows a little about just how cruel sailing can be… Leg 3 started off on a beautiful windy ,sunny day in Concarneau bay, jam packed with spectator boats and people out having a lovely time on boats. The start line set at an unconventional reaching angle to the...Read more
by Mary Rook | Jul 1, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear fantastic followers, again this one was first published on Facebook but here it is again just in case you missed it. This Leg was particularly brutal and for me a real test of mental strength. Leg 2 less physically lethal more death by self loathing. Started out in Spain on a sunny but fairly windless afternoon and after two perfect general recall starts we got off and I...Read more
by Mary Rook | Jun 29, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear my lovely dedicated followers, many of you may have seen my update from the first leg on Facebook but for those of you who missed it here it is again with a few less spelling mistakes (hopefully). This Leg was an incredibly tough start to the race and many of the top guys couldn’t finish the leg due to gear failure in the epic storm we experienced....Read more
by Mary Rook | Jun 28, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear all my wonderful friends and followers, I have just returned to the mighty shores of Great Britain and trying to put into words what it feels like to complete the Solitaire is a tricky task. Its hard to explain how you feel, wandering around the streets of Dieppe in a zombie like state completing the final few event commitments, greeting the other sailors who red eyed, bronzed and...Read more
by Mary Rook | May 29, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear Fabulous fans, as you may have guessed from my other social media postings the countdown has begun for the BIG race the Solitaire! We have been very busy at the Offshore Academy, especially our fabulous Figaro boat captain Joan. She has worked tirelessly to ensure we are where we are today and in Bordeaux, in the last week, counting down to the start. I must apologise for my lack...Read more
by Mary Rook | Apr 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear fantastic followers, I am writing to you from the beautiful spring sunshine, that seems to be beating down upon us and making me feel very happy and probably prematurely believing that summer is here. I have just successfully completed the full course of the 270 mile, Solo Concarneau race without incident or collision of any kind. And what a race it was, as Solo Normandy was wet, cold...Read more
by Mary Rook | Mar 27, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear loyal followers, I have just got home and I am starting to recover, from what was my attempt at the first race of the season. Sadly it did not end well but there were some pretty interesting bits along the way. The race started out really sparkly and with a nice 12 knots blowing I ambled across the start line, slightly confused by the flag protocol that was going...Read more
by Mary Rook | Mar 16, 2017 | Uncategorized
Dear fabulous fans, I am back in France in lovely Granville putting the finishing touches of my preparation together, before the big first race of the season, Solo Normandy. Many of the great rockstars of Offshore sailing have decided to grace us with their presence yet again, so I am looking forward to seeing what impressive moves they pull out of their offshore sailing dry bags! Whilst trying to...Read more
