1000Nm Qualifier | Heading home

Early this morning Ulf rounded Ile de Ré just outside La Rochelle. He is now on his way back to Lorient. It's been quite windy at times with a boat top speed of 20.92 knots with reefs in the main as well as in the jib. You've soon made it Ulf. Keep up the good work out there!

1000Nm Qualifier Tracking

GRPMS has just rounded Coningbeg in Ireland. Things seem to be working out fine onboard and the progress has been really good as well. Ulf is now heading south back to France for a rounding of Ile de Ré outside La Rochelle. You can follow his track at SpotMe.

1000Nm qualifier

The time has soon come to head off on my 1000Nm qualifier.
It’s a strange concept because it's the only time you’re not racing/delivering/training in the boat so there is lots of extra kit you can take, but at the same time you want to be in race mode as much as possible to knock off the mile. It is a great test for the boat and me as the course take us through one of the most feared and tricky seas around. In a strange way I'm really looking forward to it. The trip will take between 8-12 days and my aim is to push hard to find my limits and where to improve.
The course is from Lorient up to a mark off Cork Ireland, then back down around a buoy off La Rochelle and round the Island, finally back up to Lorient where the boat is based.
I hoping to leave Lorient harbor on the 18th

This is what classe mini say about the "qualifier"
The objective is simple: to allow the candidates in an A level race to become aware of their true sailing level and their psychological aptitude for single handed navigation. To cross the Atlantic single-handed is not an easy task. It is a true personal engagement in an experience where one completely takes charge of his destiny. In the middle of the ocean, you cannot count on anybody. Some see this "qualif." as an obstacle to overcome in order to start the Mini-Transat. Others, the majority of those who made it, appreciate it. One learns much during his qualification. Often, one comes back changed.