By all means send to me, Chris, but I won't be able to respond until I get a new computer. 

Brief sitrep:

Been slacking on this a bit the last few weeks, due to holidays and pressure from the real world.

Part one: THE CHINESE RIG
I have had useful comments from 4 reviewers, and Annie has now completed a (very thorough) proof reading and this part is probably now approaching 'release candidate' status.

Part two:WESTERN ADAPTATION
Around 9000 words at the moment, still waiting on a couple of promises, but expect first draft by end Jan/early Feb.

Part three:OPTIMISING THE WESTERN JUNK RIG
this is the meat. Around 8000 words right now but lots of work to do and I'm trying not to be too controversial ('yeah, right' I hear people who know me proclaim!).

In the 1964 OSTAR, Blondie Hasler & Jester finished in 37 days and 22 hours. In the book "Single Handed" in 1984, Libby Purves calls this a “startling aberration; seven or eight weeks is nearer the mark”. This struck me as an odd comment, given that the only other time registered by Hasler and Jester in this race, four years earlier, was also less than seven weeks (just).

Hasler improved on his 1960 time by 22%. Chichester improved his in Gypsy Moth III by 26%, and Lacombe, though in another (very similar) boat by 37%. These greater improvements were not flagged by Ms. Purves as aberrant. The chapter quoted deals principally with Jester in the hands of Mike Richey, who was noted for his indifference to ‘the race’, being content to spend time navigating across the ocean in a leisurely fashion, within the race structure (see Graham Cox's excellent HoF article).

So, what do we think? Is this a further example of a knee-jerk prejudice against the funny little junk-rigged vessels? Or simply the confusion of the subsequent uncompetitive nature of Mike Richey with that of Jester? Or am I just becoming paranoid?

Chris Gallienne wrote:Brief sitrep:

Part two:WESTERN ADAPTATION
Around 9000 words at the moment, still waiting on a couple of promises, but expect first draft by end Jan/early Feb.

Part three:OPTIMISING THE WESTERN JUNK RIG
this is the meat. Around 8000 words right now but lots of work to do ...

Just so no-one thinks I've 'burned out':

Still waiting on one promise for completion of Part II draft - if I don't get it by the end of Feb I'll circulate for initial comments as it stands.

Part III is still progressing - target for first draft mid/end April.

I therefore hope to have a complete draft available by the time of the AGM - I will then have to start the process of selecting and getting permissions, etc. for all the photos and other images to be used.

Well done, Chris.  This is an important work in capable hands.  I'm sure that many of us are looking forward to the completed book.

I trust you're not waiting for anything back from me?  I've been a tad distracted since the New Year and am having difficulties catching up!