Doris' AZAB Adventure

The AZAB

The AZAB (Azores and Back) is a Category 1 ocean yacht race with each of the two legs being 1,170 nautical miles (if the rhumb line can be sailed!). It is organised by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and happens every 4 years. This year Dave will be competing in it with Wayne Peters of Sail Electric. To the best of our knowledge, Doris is the first electric cruiser to take part in this or any Category 1 ocean yacht race.

So far it has mostly been a race to get all the repairs done in time following a near sinking incident in Christchurch bay (honestly I leave them alone with my beautiful boat for 48 hours and they try to sink her!). Still better to happen just off Bournemouth than half way to the Azores.

The Qualifier

So after a visit to Sail Shape in Poole to be measure up for her new Bimini (which will eventually be covered in fabric solar panels), Dave and Wayne set off confidently to do their qualifier for the AZAB unconcerned about the 300NM required to ensure their place in the race. Doris however, had other ideas. No-one had been paying attention to the strange behaviour of her transom door ("I thought that was shut? The contractors must have been in it for something and not closed it correctly", then close door tightly shut). So in the middle of Christchurch bay in 26 knots of wind and 2m waves she dropped it open wide enough to get everyone's attention! The rather strange plumbing of a bilge pump hose unfortunately meant that the water was not confined to the transom locker and in came the water. Dave's new best friend is our large scavenger pump and the straps that they jerry-rigged the door shut with whilst limping to Lymington.

Thanks to the fabulous efforts of Berthon in Lymington (special shout out to Tom Wright who is amazing) the hydraulics are fixed, the closing bolts aligned and the transom locker water-tight. Doris now happy with the work, then affably agreed to leave for the race.

They slipped out of Lymington and headed towards the Scilly Isles finishing in Plymouth. A full 300NM was sailed in fairly heavy weather despite the failure of the propeller water pump (needed for electric regeneration while sailing).

Final preparations

Currently the final preparations are underway which seems to involve Dave alternating between being upside down in the bottom of Doris tightening up/changing various widgets and being on the internet trying to buy a spare widget (they have so many spares aboard I think they may be sleeping under a widget or two but better safe than sorry). Sail Shape have done a brilliant job and the new bimini and stack pack have been fitted. They also re-tuned the standing rigging after the qualifier. We also finally have a working water-maker.

As for me? Well I've been doing the only thing I can to help and batch cooking meals for two which can be eaten from a bowl with a spoon (thank heavens she has a keel-cooled freezer). I am hoping they will be the only competitors who arrive in the Azores having gained weight :-)

Doris the cover girl

We've even had a bit of press interest due to our attempts to raise the profile of fossil-free sailing. No pressure boys.

For the full article in Marine Business World see here.

Their position at 19:00 6/6/23

The Start

So they set off on the 3rd in the beautiful Falmouth sunshine looking somewhat terrified. Pre-race nerves were not improved by problems with the asymmetric which had wrapped itself and, despite intensive efforts, was only sorted 6mins before the starting gun.

For a video of the start click here.

The weather has been beautiful for sunbathing but not so good for sailing a 17.5 ton matriarch. Its almost directly downwind, not Doris' favourite point of sail and with the wind speed in single figures she's bringing up the rear of the fleet. But, hey, as with life, its all about the journey!

Watch this space for the next update.

The Outward Leg

Things were not straightforward on the journey there. Difficulties with the new asymmetric meant at one point they were sailing in circles with Dave hoisted up the mast trying to resolve matters (shame he didn't take a camera!). The downwind sail in light airs meant Doris bimbled rather than raced but the crew were well fed on a freezer full of homemade food lovingly prepared by the support team, and definitely more comfortable than most.

During their journey Doris became a bird hotel with 2 pigeons and a swift enjoying some free snacks and water whilst resting under the sprayhood. Once the asymmetric issues were sorted everything else went smoothly and some wind on the final day meant Doris had a sprint finish, making 9.5 knots as she came into Ponta Delgada.

Their finishing time was 9 days, 7 hours and 48 minutes but most importantly all 3 of them arrived safe and sound into a rather dull and rainy Azores where the support team (Sally and Bea) met them with some fizz - although being salty old sea dogs, it was rum we celebrated with.

Most notably, Doris motored out of Falmouth, sailed 1271NM then motored into the Azoes without a drop of diesel being used. A truly fossil free adventure.

Crossing the finish line in the Azores

The Azores

Some excellent R&R was enjoyed in the rather wet and cloudy Azores although the trips up 2 different volcanoes yielded somewhat disappointing views!

A selfie from the second highest volcano, allegedly a stunning view

The map shows what you're seeing when you look out over the two volcanic lakes - well, we bought a postcard so I suppose we saw it!

Finally the cloud lift enough that we had evidence of the lake (albeit briefly)

The Return Leg

The boys were obviously more accustomed to being salty sea dogs by this point and the return leg went much smoother than the outward journey. The wind had shifted by 180 degrees so it was once again Doris' least favourite point of sail all the way. But she lifted her skirts and headed for home with enthusiasm arriving back in Falmouth with a completion time of 8 days 12 hours and 3 minutes.

Huge congratulations to the both of them - Falmouth to the Azores and back without burning a drop of fossil fuel.

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