Some of you may have heard of the Jester Challenge, and to others of you it may be a complete mystery. In truth, the Jester Challenge is a race with a difference, unlike its more commercial and competitive counterparts, the Challenge is all about seamanship, camaraderie, and the art of sailing single-handedly on long haul transatlantic trips in small boats. There is no other race of its kind, and the ethos of the race echoes that of the cruising community, where sense of adventure, the desire for a challenge and a love of sailing mingle to produce some of the most exhilarating experiences of a lifetime.
One entrant was keen to express his enthusiam for the venture. Here is some of what he had to say, highlighting the significance of the venture:
"As soon as I read about it a few months ago, I knew that it would be impossible to resist. In fact I have not thought about much else since. In a small way I was myself part of the early singlehanded ocean racing scene... - I sailed my self-built 19' sloop ... in the ... Singlehanded Trans Tasman Race (...which was modelled on the early OSTARs). Like the first Transatlantics, it was a wonderful raggle-taggle affair - 10 competitors I think - none of them in anything that could remotely be called an ocean racer, none of them in the least bit interested in self-promotion, all of them fiercely independent, all prepared to accept the consequences if things went wrong. My own yacht for example, had no electrics and no transmitter of any sort on board. I did have a dry battery receiver - on which I heard reports of my own death on Australian radio (reports that were, as they say, greatly exaggerated). I have long lamented the loss of those simple ideals of self-sufficiency and self-effacement in ocean racing. The idea, therefore, of an event, or even a 'non-event', to bring things back to their basics, and, maybe, give one in the eye to the marketing men, corporate sponsors, celebrity career sailors and rule freaks, is just too much to resist!"
Without further ado, here is the FAQ and the official line from the organisers themselves:
WHEN and WHERE: The first single-handed trans-Atlantic Jester Challenge for yachts under 30 feet LOA will start at the end of May 2006 from a line off Plymouth and finish at Newport, Rhode Island. The Jester Challenge will be held every four years thereafter: there are no entrance fees, inspections, time-keepers or (formal) prizes.
The OBJECTIVE: The object of The Jester Challenge is to further the spirit of long distance, single-handed sailing in small boats, purely for sport and the camaraderie of other competitors.
The STORY: It will also pay tribute to 'Blondie' Hasler, the originator of the Single-handed trans-Atlantic Race, inventor of the servo-pendulum self-steering gear and designer of Jester. This 25 foot Folkboat-style, junk-rigged yacht has competed in every OSTAR since the first in 1960 but from which she has now been disenfranchised due to her size.
The second Jester Challenge will take place in 2010 on the 50th anniversary of the first race in 1960 when five yachts started and five finished: four of these were under 26 feet. It is expected that in 2006 at least two of the original competing yachts - and possibly all five - will take part for it is hoped to invite Gypsy Moth III. Jester herself is the first confirmed entrant.
The RULES:
There are just two rules and one recommendation:
- Competing boats must be 30ft LOA or below (unless invited by a majority of the other skippers)
- It will be the responsibility of the skipper/owner to ensure that his/her vessel is covered by third-party insurance up to £2 million
- It is recommended that competitors sail a single-handed, open sea passage of 500 miles before the start in the vessel in which they intend taking up The Jester Challenge.
This is not a Race in the accepted meaning of the word and thus The Jester Challenge is, emphatically, not in competition with the Royal Western Yacht Club's OSTAR: which is a race for larger yachts and held in different years.
The JESTER ETHOS: The Jester Challenge exists on the understanding that everyone has the right to sail across the Atlantic single-handed and 'in company' without submitting themselves to rules and regulations other than common sense, good seamanship and the established COLREGS: thus there are no sponsors, no organisers, no committees, no one responsible for collective or individual safety and no one has a duty of care to the competitors other than the skippers to themselves. Skippers will, individually, be expected to inform the appropriate authorities of their intended passage as they might - or might not - for any other lengthy or oceanic cruise.
INFO: For further information about The Jester Challenge please email the co-ordinator Plus- a small plea: If anyone knows the whereabouts of "Cardinal Vertue" would they also e-mail the co-ordinator.
If you are thinking of taking part, then why not let our forum members know, by replying to the following thread
or to start a new discussion click
here.
