However, the path from the idea to the rock is a long one. The race itself is a long distance - the preparation is a marathon. This is especially true for beginners like us who start from “0”.

​

The preparation affects the crew, boat, navigation and ultimately also organization and logistics - and all of this is made more difficult by the exceptional COVID 19  conditions in 2020 and 2021.

​

We have to deal with the OFFSHORE SPECIAL REGULATIONS for Category 2 offshore races, there are highly detailed equipment regulations, ISAF courses for the crew, medical preparation courses, not to forget the measurement of the boat (here we decided to measure for tactical reasons without G1 and without Gennaker). And of course it's about training. Finally, a special requirement for participation is the qualification of the crew by completing at least 300 ocean racing miles on the registered boat with at least 50% of the registered crew in the last 12 months before the FASTNET.
 

Additionally to these compulsory issues we have to focus the "freestyle": Even if we start primarily in an "Olympic" mode - participating is the only purpose - we obviously don't want to look completely stupid. Therefore  a few technical improvements are required, amongst this new sails are part of our "pure olympic concept", the rudder is too short, the cockpit instruments are old, ditto some halyards and sheets, etc., etc.. We have to drill a really thick board - and it turns out that the drill required has often more in the shape of a credit card.

​

But all of this was achieved very well over the course of almost two years of preparation, very important is the navigational preparation with a close look at the specific challenges of the course, which is unfamiliar to us, with its currents, tidal races and overfalls, the coastline, traffic separation areas etc..