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While most Islanders battened down the hatches last weekend as Storm Angus took hold, one Jersey sailor’s mind was elsewhere: shattering a cross-Channel sailing record, propelled by the gale-force winds.
Award-winning skipper Phil Sharp set sail shortly after 6:30 this morning, after working with a meteorologist to pinpoint the ideal weather conditions to break the current Cowes-Dinard world record, standing at 12 hours and one minute.
According to meteorologist Jure Jerman, today's forecasted gale force 8 winds of 30-35 knots will be, "right on the upper limit for a clean attempt."
Still big wind forecast tomorrow for possible #ChannelRecord.. 30-35 kts NE. @bruichladdic… https://t.co/dIxzOEqrYn pic.twitter.com/nx8IYfDwXG
— Phil Sharp (@Phil_Sharp_) November 23, 2016
Mr Sharp added: “The Channel will be absolutely howling, potentially leading to some rough conditions in the Alderney Races, but it would be a very fast passage, ideal for setting a new record.”
Although he is travelling as a solo skipper, a team of experts will support him from land, updating him on favourable wind and wave conditions.
The team received a 'Code Green' notice yesterday afternoon, after waiting on amber alert since Saturday when Mr Sharp moved his boat 'Imerys’ from Jersey to Cowes in preparation.
Code GREEN - at 06:30 tomorrow I'll be aiming to cross the start-line of an attempt to break the #ChannelRecord solo in under 12hrs #speed pic.twitter.com/47UWHT3HSG
— Phil Sharp (@Phil_Sharp_) November 23, 2016
Mr Sharp commented that the record attempt will be, “…a fine balance between performance and risk”.
He had already run into difficulty, having reported issues with his onboard electronics on Tuesday.
Computer says NO.. Big issues with electronics on boat and currently a lot of head scratch… https://t.co/NJPQ9dEgZi pic.twitter.com/obGF7JOJjb
— Phil Sharp (@Phil_Sharp_) November 22, 2016
But Mr Sharp is no stranger to a challenge – in April he secured third place in the Transat Bakerly despite having to finish with a torn sail.
Mr Sharp's progress can be followed on Twitter or via his online Channel Record Tracker.
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