ULF BRÄNDSTRÖM

Lots on

2012-02-07T21:30:00.003+01:00

The 2012 season are soon approaching and a lot of fun things are happening.

We are now getting somewhere with the organizing of a Solo Challenge here in Sweden. (More info coming soon)
The preparation of our newly bought Pacer 27 is proceeding well and should be ready for the Swedish season which starts in May.
I will do some guest appearance on a Mini6.50, J111, F18, during the 2012 season aswell.
This blog will have some major changes next month and I will be more active in it.
Some more articles about me is soon out highlighting the growing Shorthand scene.
We are currently working on a boat title sponsor pack for the 2012 Pacer27 Project. (Suggestions?)
I have just started a new challenging position as Sales manager for Advanced Composite Materials within the organization I work for (Always fun to tinker with Carbon)

Sailing plan 2012.

2012-01-05T15:15:00.014+01:00

Spi Quest France. (J111)
Demi Cle France (Nacira 6,50)
Lidingö runt (Pacer 27)
Vår racet Trälhavet (Pacer 27)
Watski 2star Baltic (Pacer27)
Sandhamn open (Pacer 27)
Åf Gottland runt (Pacer27)
Aigo raid F18? (F18?)
Ulvö regattan (Pacer)
Solo race Sandhamn?(Pacer27)
Data com (Pacer 27)
Kålö race (Pacer27)
Åland race (Pacer27)

New owner to SWE772

2012-01-05T14:48:00.004+01:00

Frank Eckard bought SWE772 and towed her the 1600km to Berlin where he lives. As I understand he will keep the boat in Germany up to the spring when he takes it back to Lorient in France. It will be intressting to follow Frank in his campain and I will post a link to his future blog when I know it.
Hopefully I will sail Demi Cle with him as a co-skipper.

Time has come to move on.

2011-12-15T18:18:00.005+01:00

After 3 wonderful years in the Mini class it has now come to move on. The boat is most likely
sold and will be delivered to the new owner in Germany. I will probably still do
at least one race on the French mini seen as a co skipper during 2012.
So whats next?

If things goes well I will be sailing a Pacer27 Sport in Sweden. Bruce Gaily
and Björn Freels who I raced against
during the last two years in France will join me for some great blasting in local
Swedish races as Åf Gotland runt. We
will also add another 2-3 people to the future “Mojo” team
Moore news comming soon……..

Short clip from Transat 2011

2011-12-06T17:44:00.002+01:00

2011-10-26T19:34:00.003+02:00

Victims of the ocean

I was unfortunately forced to withdraw from the race in Cape Verde due to a severe knee infection which has spread into my bone, three doctors, unanimously, informed me of the high risk of blood-poisoning and other possible complications if I carried on.
The start of the second leg went well and I was just where I wanted to be on the evening of the 13th of October, things started to change during the 14th when my starboard lower rudder fitting broke. I decided not to go into the Canaries , as I thought i had made an sufficient repair. After the temporary repair I knew that I could not push the boat as hard as I wanted to. My aim to start with was to qualify next was to be able to finish the race. The result was never so important.
During the night between the 14th and the 15th of October my left knee started to grow at an alarming rate so I decided to start with an antibiotic I had onboard (Anoxillum). At the same time I totally lost my appetite. I was starting to fall behind now, 29th place, I pulled myself together and decided to started to push more, despite my rudder problems, on the 19th. 10 hours later I heard a big bang from my port rear and I quickly realized that my port lower rudder fitting had exploded. I was 93Nm from Cape Verde and decided to divert into Mindelo. The progress was very slow with just one rudder working and as the waves were hitting me at starboard rear where my previously repaired rudder was. My previously repaired starboard rudder finally gave in 42 Nm north east of Cape Verde and I was left with no rudders. I tried to lash my oar to the stern without success. This left me with no other choices than to call upon a support boat for assistance. A hard decision but the only thing I could do to save the boat.
In Mindelo I quickly started repairing the rudder fittings, with a big portion of luck they may have lasted to Bahia. As the infection in my leg did not want to go down and the fact that I suspected that I had a fever I asked for a medical opinion from the doctor. The first doctor said my illness was very serious so I took a second opinion and contacted another doctor who subscribed me another type of antibiotics. One of the race doctors onboard one of the support boats had heard about my leg and came over for an inspection. She harshly informed me about the high risk of blood-poisoning and strongly advised me not to stay in the race. Three doctors, independent of each other, advised me to withdraw from the race and I respected their advice and withdrew from the race.

I have to say that these 2 years of challenge has been the most fun thing I ever done. It has really been an epic journey which should have been impossible without the sponsors; Grpms, Ursuit and Pateneius insurance.

If the occasion was to occur that I would have the possibility to do this over again I would jump at it any minute. So if you are a possible partner out there please let me know urgently and I am sure that we together can accomplish great things during the next two years.

First Leg Finished

2011-10-05T22:52:00.005+02:00

Photo: Pierrick Garenne/GPO
Congratulations Ulf! You've finished the first leg of Mini Transat 2011! We are proud of you! 26th of 45 in the series class is not bad in tough competition. How was it?

324 Nm left to Madeira

2011-10-03T12:35:00.001+02:00

Ulf seems to be sailing really well and is now positioned 22 out of 45 in the series class with 324 nautical miles left to Madeira. Check out the tracker and Go Ulf!!!

Ulf's ready to go!

2011-09-25T12:05:00.006+02:00

The start of the La Charente-Maritime/Bahia - Transat 650 2011 now only 24 hours away! Ulf Brändström has finally done the last preparations to the Nacira 650. But still in the race village the activity is high and the sailors and their shorecrew always seem to find new things that have to be sorted before the leave tomorrow. Many of the sailors are fully sponsored and have a shorecrew with them and others have friends that help them with the preparations and some seem to be working alone. One of the professionals I spoke to envied Ulf with his help. He´s almost a little bit posh, he said with the glimps in his eyes.

- I´ve had some trouble with my autopilots that did not work two days ago, now thats fixed I hope. Best would have been if I had the possibility to go out for a trial but we are not allowed to leave the harbour. The "NKE guy" worked with my boat until five this morning. My friend and Nacira representative Aymeric Belloir, have also helped me with the preparations of the boat. To night I will sneak under the boat and clean the hull, says Ulf.

The sailors are not allowed to dive into the water before the start but at many boats there are drysuits hanging and diving equipment on the kay.
The weather for the first leg to Madeira seem to be quit light upwind. This is not the strongest side of the Nacira.

- I have to be focused on steering on this first leg, to be able to keep the speed up. Sail a little bit lower and go for the 6 knot speed. Not to much sleeping on this firts leg. My strategy will be to sail rumbline down to La Coruna or Finisterre and follow the Portugeese coastline and then aim for Madeira. This is the current strategy for most of the production boats but some of the protos seem to go further west to hope for stronger winds but it´s too much of a risk. My hopes will be to end up around the places of 25 to 30 within the production class, Ulf says.

When I look into Ulfs boat the stacking is prepared for lightwind, all sails are in the front of the boat and all the 60 liter of drinking water is stacked at the hullside in front of ther middle. Ursuit foul weather suit and just one set of clothes is brought on the boat. Shorts, t-shirt and one pair of underwear! Ulf will use a special kind of soft "chair" when resting and steering to save an aiching back. It will be interesting to get feedback from that. All food is of course freeze dried.

- The water for the food will be boiled in a kettle that my father have used during his sailing trips so it has some special feelings attached to it, Ulf says.

Before I leave Ulf for his swim under the boat I ask him who will be the winner of the mini transat 2011.

- I think for the protoclass that at least I wish Guillaume Le Brec (FRA667), Antoine Rioux (FRA800) and Thomas Normand (FRA787) will be fighting for the victory.In the production class it´s almost impossible to pic a winner. The TipTop and the D2 boats may have a chance in the upwinds but Nacira and Pogo2 are faster downwind. So probably one of the french top sailors in a Pogo2 will win, Ulf says.

Jean-Marc Allaire found Dead.

2011-09-12T22:33:00.004+02:00

Summary of facts via the official press release sent by the Préfecture Maritime de l’Atlantique, today Monday the 12th of September 2011:

PREFECTURE MARITIME DE L’ATLANTIQUE

Bres on the 12th of September 2011.

A yachtsman found Dead off Cap Ferret

On Monday the 12th of September at about 09:00 a.m., the Cap Ferret’s semaphore was warned by the fishing boat “Atalante” that a sailboat “Karantez VI” – Pogo 2 6,50 – was under full sails without people aboard. The sailboat was adrift, 8 nautical miles (14 km) from Cap-Ferret.

The customs plane from Bordeaux has rerouted to position the boat. The security helicopter “Dragon 33” was sent in the area to do the initial researches of man overboard.

Around 10:00 a.m., the body of a man around 40 years old, wearing integrated buoyancy clothes with the name of the boat on it, was found by a yachtsman on Lège-Cap-Ferret's beach.

A fisherman has moored the sailboat off Cap-Ferret. It is now watched by the Cap-Ferret semaphore.

End of the Préfecture Maritime de l’Atlantique press release.

Jean-Marc Allaire’s body was then identified by the Gendarmerie (Ed. French police force). His family was soon after informed.
Jean-Marc Allaire was to participate to the Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50 2011, single-handed transatlantic, that will leave on Sunday the 25th of September.
The Classe Mini, its members and the entire Mini community, Grand Pavois Organisation, its President, its Board of directors and the Race comity of the Transat 6,50 share the immense pain of the death of Jean-Marc and their thoughts are with his loved ones in this tragic death.

2011-09-06T15:53:00.005+02:00

Me at the helm of SWE772 Grpms.com

The time has come.

I am off to La Rochelle on the 17th of September for my big challenge to sail the race of my life. The Mini Transat 6,50 solo race from La Rochelle to Salvador de Bahia.
I have to say that I wish I was more prepared. Mojo my boat is still on the yard and I have not sailed her since before the collision with the French Trawler in May. Next time I will sail her is out to the Start line on the 25th. This make the challenge even more exiting.

The Race
The Mini Transat 6.5 race is known as one of the most extreme yachting events in the world, this event sees the smallest single-handed offshore class of yacht race across the Atlantic Ocean. For safety reasons organizers limit the number to 80 yachts.

With no onboard computers or internet access like most modern offshore events, this race relies on the ability of the sailor to sail with very little modern resources. The name Mini comes from the fact that it is minimum of safety and minimum of contact with anything else then the sea .
Start line is at La Rochelle on thesouth west coast of France, racing to Madeira Island Canary Group of Islands, to finish at Salvador de Bahia north east coast of South America. Sailing a distance of approximately 6,000 nautical miles.

The History

The first edition of the Mini Transat race was held in 1977 subsequently has been held bi annually. The first race was launched by Englishman Bob Salomon. In 1977 the race started in Penzance England racing to Tenerife and finishing in the English harbour of Antigua. There were 24 boats in that first race and was won by Daniel Gilard.

There have been many changes to the course since 1977 even though it had a British origin the race was soon to become dominated by the French. In 1985 the course was changed to start in Brest France racing to the course altered again to run from La Rochelle France to Salvador De Bahia in Brazil. French sailors made up the majority of the entrants however by 1999 almost half of the fleet were international sailors representing more than 12 different nationalities.
The Course 2011

LEG ONE

La Rochelle to the Madeira

The Bay of Biscay is known as the equivalent of Australia’s Bass Strait. This dangerous area of water is shallow like Bass Strait and is known for its big powerful north Atlantic swell and the strong Atlantic trade winds. This stretch of water makes it an ideal area to start such an extreme yacht race. This leg is 1200nm long.

LEG TWO

Madeira to Salvador, Brazil

This leg has its very own challenges for example sailing though the doldrums where the wind can stop for days and then you can be hammered by large squalls created by the tropics. This is where this race can be lost and won. Leg two is much more challenging, by the time the sailors near Brazil they would have been at sea for at least 14 days sailing the boat at race pace. Sailing fast becomes much more difficult as sleep deprivation sets in. This leg is 3100nm long.

The Challengers and the Dangers

The wide open space of the Atlantic could seem daunting when you are on a 21 foot yacht. The key to the second leg is heading south till you find the Trade Winds before making a big right hand turn for the West Indies. Keeping the extremely over powered mini under control. Loss of concentration and a mid Atlantic squall can catch you out with the wrong sails up and this could easily cause a capsize putting yourself, your boat and the equipment in danger.

It takes less then 20 minutes for a freighter to reach you from the horizon. A mini is a small boat and very difficult to see. You are alone so when you’re asleep there is no one else to keep watch making your sleep periods very short.

During the race

As a solo skipper you are the one responsible for everything from the care and maintenance of yourself to the care and maintenance of the vessel and all equipment on board. You are the correct trimming of sails. It is hard work, days are long and sleep is short, food is a small selection of freeze dried meals that become tasteless and monotonous with repetition of menu.

As part of the Mini Transat Race conditions, sailor must commit to Operation Label Bleue which is dedicated to the children of Charente-Maritime, Madeira and Brazil. These three areas are all involved with the race. The aims of Operation Label Bleue are preserving the marine environment, discovering solidarity, other cultures and civilizations. This operation involves over 2000 children from 6 to 13 years of age.

These children meet with the skippers, mail correspondence and with the assistance of internet, the children insight into marine life protection, humanitarian actions. The children get an insight to the way of life on these small racing yachts.

Follow the race on
http://www.charentemaritime-bahia.transat650.net/en

Start of the season

2011-05-05T12:31:00.005+02:00

Intresting two races
Demi Cle 26out of 54 starting
Select 22 out of 50 starting
I am rather pleased with my campain so far and especial after last race when I got hit by a trawlwer and still managed to compleat the race with ok result . (Not trawler above)
Full accident report comming soon.
Also visit http://www.teamhoffstedt.se/ for some pictures and reports in Swedish.

On the list

2011-04-04T14:00:00.003+02:00

http://www.classemini.com/modules/courses/upload/108/Pré-Inscriptions%20Transat%2011%20040411.pdf

2010-09-21T10:36:00.001+02:00

My French sailing seasons have soon ended. It has been a great season with some surprisingly good results and above all, I have accomplished all my objectives for the 2010 season.
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank for all the support I have received from my current sponsors and all you who follow my endeavor. Things I now have on my “to do” list for next season and for the 2011 Transat is to do some small changes/repairs to the boat and also find some additional sponsorship

1000Nm Qualifier | Film

2010-08-17T21:38:00.009+02:00

SWE772 Interviewed after the 1000nm qualifier

2010-08-02T23:55:00.005+02:00

Interview

1000Nm Qualifier | Heading home

2010-07-24T12:13:00.002+02:00

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

2010-07-20T19:28:00.003+02:00

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

2010-07-04T13:40:00.008+02:00

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.

DAN 312

2010-06-28T14:35:00.004+02:00

My very good friend Dan was recently interwied by Solent radio about his Transat 2011 campain. (29,45 minuts in to the program) With some luck we might see him over here in Sweden for some multihull sailing in the future...

Clip from Mini Fastnet 2010

2010-06-28T12:34:00.008+02:00

See link for film.

Fastnet 2010

2010-06-21T21:17:00.015+02:00

Great race, great result. Full report and pictures coming soon

2010 results

Ready to go!

2010-06-07T19:27:00.007+02:00

I am now sitting in the harbour resturant La Bass and feeling pleased with what I achived. I have worked 30 hours nonstop and I am nearly ready to leave for Douarnenez at 2pm tomorrow (right tide then). Unfortanetly I have not have had time to put the branding on the boat but rest of the things on the list has been done,

I just looked at the weather forcast and it is now going to be very light so I will sleap my way up north as I have not slept much during the last couple of days. (Borrowed autopilot from Lucas Shröder )

2010-06-06T15:27:00.004+02:00

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belif, it was the epoch of incredulty, it was the season of light, it was the season of darknes, it wasthe spring of hope, it was the winter of despar.

This how Dickens described the period of the French revolution but it could have easily described mini sailing. I am now here in Lorient waiting for my Autopilot to get fixed. (Clutch problem) I been told that I can have it sorted on monday. This leaves it very tight for the Fastnet as I have to be in Douarnenez no later then wendnesday for the safetychecks. It is 80+nm sail through Point du Raz and the forcast is set to be southerly 26knots on monday afternoon. This makes me rather exited as the above forcast will cater for some proper action....

To do list before depature (Monday night)

Drive unit to autopilot (Dead)

Rudder bearing loose at deck. (worn)

Pick up food

Pick up furler from Rigger

Radar detector (blowing fuses)

Investigate rather large cracks in port rudder (Think it will be ok)

Next race, Mini Fastnet

2010-05-31T23:53:00.004+02:00

Next race for SWE772 will be Mini Fastnet
Start date and hour : 13/06/2010 - 13h00
Category : B
OSR category : 2
Crew type : double
Total nb of NM : 600

You can follow the race on http://www.winchesclub.com/minis650/fastnet650/EN-0

Mini-Fastnet, an annual race between Brittany and the mythical Fastnet Rock situated at Ireland’s extreme south-west (51°23.′3″ N et 009°36.′1″ W) in the county of Cork.
As Charles Aznavour sings in one of his famous songs “ I tell you about a time that teenagers cannot know about “... we can say that the “Mini-Fastnet” is the oldest race of the Mini sailing circuit in France. Bob Salmon, the founder of the “concept 6.50” created in 1977 in Great Britain the “Mini-Fastnet” which would occur for four editions before he passed the tradition down to Jean Luc Garnier, president of “Voiles 6.50” in 1984.

I will be traveling down to Lorient sone to prepare for the race. Alot of work and short of time will make it all more challanging, but I will make it up to the startline in time.
Aymeric Belloir will be the co-skipper.
The to do list include/

Branding of the boat

Some NKE problems still to be sorted

Active Eco radar detector

Change some broken parts (Mainly blocks)

Transport sail the boat from Lorient to Douarnenez

Prepare the boat for the race (Safety/Food/polars/Sailcharts etc.)

2 days training with Aymeric

Try to find a new medium spi.

Introduction to Mini sailing

2010-05-11T16:47:00.005+02:00

Spectacular, adventurous, extreme,dangerous and WHY???

Mini Transat. A sailing race across the Atlantic ocean with boats that are maximum 6 and a half meter long. The ±4000 miles long sail race from France to the stopover in the Canaries and then to the Carib or now to Brazil is one of the hardest solo ocean races around. Lonely in a little boat with ample space and very limited time to sleep.
The goal of the race is simple; sail as fast as you can across the Atlantic in a boat who is smaller then 6.50 meter.
The English 'spirit' has changed over the years into the French 'élan'. They overtook the organization of the race and the class organization. They are always keen to sail the unpossible.
How does it feel to cross the ocean in a tiny, fast sailing, over canvassed boat in a month ? Totally alone, nobody to talk to, to blame or to help you.
Living;
On a six-and-a-half-metre boat, only the essential are fitted in, this allows survival of the sailor for more than four weeks at sea. With about 100 liters fresh water in tanks, 35 kilos food, an auto-inflatable, all the safety material and the sails, there is very little living space. Skippers of a Mini6.50 must displace a good part of this in order to balance the boat position, this is called
stacking.
Sleeping is a problem, spending more than ten hours a day at the helm, in dampness and hazardous comfort, the solo-voyager must manage at best the waking/sleeping rhythms. Rest intervals must be extremely short but sleeping is still a tall order: the boat impacts waves constantly breaking on the deck, wetting everything, while under deck the noise is earsplitting. The choice of food and the organization of rest times are key-factors. Each skipper devotes at least two hours a day to eating, tactics and shipping forecast.
You never really stretch out in rest, so your body is always in tension. Very tiring. A good sleep is extreamly rare.
Sailing.
The chance that the boat is whipped out (knocked down) or that you are wiped overboard like nearly 10% sailors, (based on 2005 figures) is always in the back of your mind. Your will meet and conquer your mental barriers.

GRPMS LTD

2010-05-09T11:20:00.006+02:00

SWE772 main sponsor Grpms is now proud sponsor of the new Sunseeker 40Mtr Luxury yacht aswell.
They also announce the uppdated market leding chandlery service for the Marine industrytools4grp.se .The website is part of the GRPMS Group of businesses, so you can be sure that you will receive a first class service from specialists in a business with nearly 40 years of industry experience.
The aim of tools4grp.se is to provide a comprehensive range of Fibreglass Tools at the right price and delivered on time.
Their online service widens the service they offer to customers, so that you can review there extensive range of Grp Tools at a time that suits you best and place orders on the easy to use web shop.

Chomarat

2010-05-07T08:42:00.001+02:00

GRPMS is delighted to announce a supply agreement with Chomarat , leader in innovative and special reinforcements. Under the agreement, GRPMS will become Chomarat's product range distributor, in both the UK & Eire. GRPMS has unrivalled experience in the composite distribution market through its experienced sales team and network of distribution centers. The addition of Chomarat's global expertise and its wide range of products, including special solutions for closed mold processes such as Roviflow®or Rovicore®, will further strengthen GRPMS portfolio of composite products.
This new cooperation will reinforce GRPMS strategy of delivering to its customers top quality products from the strongest supplier portfolio in the composites distribution market.

SWE772 interviewed after Demi Cle'

2010-04-24T11:38:00.003+02:00

Interview

DemiCle 2010

2010-04-19T18:20:00.009+02:00

See below clip from the race

Demi Cle´2010

23rd position of total 40 (Including Proto)

Nice sail with Woody

2010-04-12T20:34:00.002+02:00

Staale Jordan. Sailor of the year in Norway

2010-04-06T16:18:00.002+02:00

Staale Jordan who was one of the speakers on Grpms shorthand forum last month has been selected for the award as the sailor of 2009 in Norway. Well done!

SWE772 Interviewed by Vättern Shorthanded Sailing Club

2010-04-06T11:35:00.007+02:00

Interview

Back in Sweden after a few days in Lorient

2010-04-06T00:14:00.007+02:00

The preparation of the boat going forward but it is still quite a lot to do before the first race Demi Cle. This did not stop me from going for a short blast for a few days ago whish was really nice as it was now many months since I was out last time. The things left to do on the boat are now primarily security stuff so I’m not too worried. One thing which is little more concerning is that I have found two small cracks on the rudders. It seems that it is just in the gelcoat so I have to monitor them closely alternative if time allows sort them out before the race. I will be down again next Saturday with Woody (GBR 500) who will be sailing with me during the Demi Cle. Hopefully we will get out for some training before the start as we don’t have sailed together before. The facilities at AOS in Lorient where SWE772 is based are fantastic. Many of the Mini and Figaro sailors have this place as their base, entering this old German submarinebase from the 2nd world war is in some ways like stepping back in time as the bomb marks from the British bombing during the war still are very visible. In the middle of all this this ruins one can find big teams like Groupama.

Point du Raz

2010-03-27T16:13:00.004+01:00

See below for a classic clip of Raz at full force

Raz at full force

Grpms start distribut Kovax abrasives

2010-03-21T18:04:00.005+01:00

Grpms start distribut Kovax Time Saving Abrasives. Kovax is a producer and supplier of innovative and time saving abrasives for the yacht building, automotive, painting and woodworking industry.
Why Kovax?

Complete product range
Time savings up to 50%
Very long lifetime
Extremely uniform sanding result
Excels in aggressiveness and cutting power

SWE772 in Pornichet

2010-03-21T17:37:00.002+01:00

Greetings from Pornichet

2010-03-20T22:10:00.000+01:00

I just arrived at Pornichet after a rather long trip down from Stockholm.SWE 772 will get its antifauling and NKE instrument done here by Charles at Yacht-Man who runs Oceanskill. I will post some clips from the trip when I am back in Sweden.

Pantaenius

2010-03-15T09:38:00.004+01:00

SWE772 is now insured through Pantaenius
Pantaenius is one of the leading yacht insurance brokers in Europe and looks back on more than a hundred years of experience. For over 30 years now it has had a separate corporate branch concerned exclusively with the insurance of yachts.

Important advantages

Agreed value
New for old
Worldwide cover
Global network
Deductible - not necessary
Loss of personal effects or their damage
Bonus up to 40%
Regatta sailing
Electronics
Third party
Sailing season

Allt för Sjön boatshow over

2010-03-14T18:42:00.003+01:00

Packing after the show

Dry era of sailing. URSUIT!

2010-03-08T19:10:00.013+01:00

As a result of many years of development Ursuit has brought to the market a new dry suit collection that fulfills the requirements of deep-sea-sailing and those of costal classes. The Gemino Operative suit is especially suitable for the Transat 6.50 extreme sailing environment where your life depends on keeping dry and warm whilst still having the ease of movement.
I will be using following products from Ursuit in my campaign:

· Gemino Operative 4-Tex (Red)
· MPS Multi purpose
· X-Tex Light Finnfill 0,83
· Next to skin
· 5001 Survival suit

European organizations using Ursuit:

Defence forces: Navy and Navy dive special forces,
Diving land forces, Land forces moving at sea
Police and Special Police forces,
National Border Guard air and sea forces
Professional divers and fishermen and others working at sea
Sea Rescue societies (SAR)
Fire and Rescue departments
Rescue Instruction centres and organizations Sport and technical diving instructors

SWE772 in the press again!

2010-03-06T00:22:00.006+01:00

I am pleasant surprised how much media tension we have had in the last couple of days. Below you will find few new links.

http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/tag/product/www-tools4grp-se/pressreleases

http://www.presskontakt.se/pressreleaser/visa/pressrelease/214666/grpms-lanserar-ny/BC4AE423-FC29-62C8-F406-5957EDB77AD5

http://www.newzglobe.com/sv/newsdesk/grpms-lanserar-ny-webshop-komposit-0

http://www.blur.se/2010/03/05/grpms-pa-allt-for-sjon/

Press Release

2010-03-05T00:29:00.000+01:00

http://www.alltforsjon.com/common/Category.aspx?id=7289&pressreleaseid=1738

SWE772 in the press

2010-03-04T23:40:00.000+01:00

http://www.batliv.se/article.asp?newsid=2464

Ready for the show

2010-03-04T23:25:00.002+01:00

SWE772 is now on display at the biggest boatshow in Scandinavia, Allt för sjön from 5th -14th of March. You will find the boat in Grpms stand A04:01

Snowy tripp

2010-03-02T01:08:00.005+01:00

Just arrived in Stockholm for the boatshow after 13 hour drive in the snow.
I was hoping on less snow but after few near incident I arrived at 11pm rather tired. The Nke stuff and the efoy fuelcell did not arrive before departure so I will fit them in France instead. One thing I have to remember is to move the boat back few centimeters on the trailer before I tow it next time as I had far to little presure on the front tires on the car, This was the reason for the hairy ride as the Volvo I drove was front wheel drive. No gripp and bad stearing was not great....

New Yard for Nacira 6,50

2010-03-02T00:37:00.007+01:00

NACIRA 650 production will be build from now on by the boatyard FR Nautisme from Lorient (France). The n°8 is beeing finished over there at the moment and will be launched begining of March in Lorient
Francois Robert boat yard is well known from mini racers and offshore racers in general, last exemple beeing that Francois built Giovani Soldinis Class40 (design by Guillaume Verdier) that won all races since it was launched! Francois have raced two time in the mini transat (1991 and 1995) and won the MiniFastnet in 2002. Francois background in his yard and on the sea will be a real advantage for the NACIRA650
Units 9 and 10 should be ready to be soldl in May at a discount price...
Contacts : Corentin Douguet au 06 60 44 85 43 ou nacira650@sfr.frFrançois Robert au 02 97 83 99 48Association des propriétaires : assonacira650@gmail.com

GRPMS Launch new webshop

2010-02-23T14:33:00.007+01:00

Grpms are pleased to announce the forthcoming launch of their new webshop on the 5th of March.
http://www.tools4grp.se /
Customers will benefit from a number of advantages:
- Purchase 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
- Exclusive promotions
- Easy navigation
- View product recommendations
- New products introduced on a regular basis
- Product prices can be checked online

SWE772 In the press

2010-02-23T13:54:00.002+01:00

http://www.svensksegling.se/Startsidesnyheter1/2010/1akvartal/BokaShorthanded-forumpabatmassan/

GRPMS Nordic shorthand forum

2010-02-20T12:20:00.003+01:00

GRPMS Shorthand forum has been organised on the 13th of March at the Allt för Sjön boatshow.
Click on below link for more info.
http://www.blur.se/2010/02/20/grpms-nordic-shorthanded-forum/
The Shorthand scene has grown rapidly during the last couple of years in Scandinavia with often over 100 boats on the start lines. National and International speakers will inspire and talk about how the shorthand scean will develop in the Nordic countries. The forum will be published on youtube for those of you who can not attend.

A clip from GRPMS Ocean challange coach Lucas Shröders 2007 campaign

2010-02-18T09:04:00.002+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL5NJH-vOEw&feature=player_embedded

Nice clip from 2009 Transat

2010-02-18T08:13:00.003+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5vwP6udAWA

SWE772 In the press

2010-02-17T16:33:00.001+01:00

http://www.blur.se/2010/02/15/nyfiken-pa-ulf-brandstrom/

SWE772 In the press

2010-02-17T16:31:00.001+01:00

http://www.blur.se/2009/08/31/sologippar/

GRPMS Pressrelase

2010-02-17T16:21:00.001+01:00

http://www.alltforsjon.com/common/category.aspx?id=7289&pressreleaseid=1566