Not quite

Mean Machine finishes just outside the record time for the Vuurschepenrace

The long-awaited moment finally arrived for the Mean Machine VOR crew when the pistol signalling the start of the Scheveningen – Harwich leg, the Vuurschepenrace, of the North Sea Regatta was fired yesterday evening.

This is the very first regatta for the Mean Machine VOR crew, since Peter de Ridder, Ray Davies and Dirk de Ridder took the step of acquiring a VO70; Mean Machine number 20. It’s with this VO70 that the team are preparing a campaign to take on the round the world race par excellence, the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.

The North Sea Regatta Committee signalled the start of the race at around seven thirty yesterday evening. The Mean Machine seventy-footer was among 56 boats to set off on the race, among them another Dutch round the world boat, the VOR 60 Pleomax.

Initial weather forecasts didn't predict very favourable sailing conditions for the 110 mile passage ahead for the fleet.

The record for this leg was set in 1993 by the Lutra 40 Bierkaai, of some 10 hours and 47 minutes. Unfortunately, it was a difficult record to break, even for Mean Machine. Peter de Ridder’s crew crossed the line at Harwich after 10 hours and 59 minutes.

Jules Salter, navigator on the TP52, and on this occasion on Mean Machine, commented on the weather : “We’ve seen some really interesting conditions out there, with some low pressure crossing our track. We sailed a close reach with 18-20 knots of breeze, as well as some really light wind conditions…we’ve been really busy!”

One of the key aims in this race, as trimmer Jono Swain explained, was to test out some of the development areas they’ve been working on over the past few months: “The fact that there were so many more of us on board than there would be in a VOR leg really helped us with manoeuvres. We’ve tried out new sails, such as our new masthead sail, which is frankly huge. I’m confident this sail is going to considerably optimize the performance of these boats, especially in light conditions.”

Dirk De Ridder, Director of Operations for he Volvo Ocean Race campaign agreed with Swain: “We´d hoisted some of the sails we’ve been developping, and we’re really happy with the results. In light conditions you really can gain a considerable speed.”

“Memories of the last Volvo Ocean Race came to mind, which really brought me back to reality; the sails are still very heavy and the sail changes take a long time and are slow to do,” added Dirk de Ridder, “and it’s in those sort of moments when you ask yourself what on earth you’re doing here!”

Peter de Ridder’s conclusions reveal his obvious enthusiasm for the most recent addition to the Mean Machine family: “It’s been a good race, but this boat is very tough, almost wild. The boys (Dirk de Ridder, Simeon Tienpont, Jono Swain and Jules Salter) have my utmost respect. It really is amazing how they handle these boats.”

The 180 mile return leg to Scheveningen on Friday will be the second and last long distance race in the North Sea Regatta.

Weather permitting, it may present a good opportunity for some Mean Machine history to be made, and a new record for the Harwich – Scheveningen leg.

Eight finished teams:
1. Mean Machine
2. Pleomax
3. Sjamboc
4. Checkmate
5. Roark
6. Eclectic
7. Semantic
8. Stortemelk