December 22, 2007
by Mean Machine Sailing Team
22 Dec |
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Mean Machine Christmas Letter December 2007
Dear all,
Well, it’s been another eventful year at the Mean Machine HQ… life in the fast lane certainly isn’t dull! While Peter and the boys scoff some mince pies and sip some mulled wine, we thought we’d treat you to a little round up of the highs (and lows) of 2007. So sit back, have another chocolate and cast your eyes back through the months with us…
JANUARY 2007
The Machine’s aren’t known for their ability to put their feet up and relax (except if there’s Limoncello and some singing involved…), so the New Year is a time for focus and concentration. On Jan 5th the former “Pirates of the Caribbean”, now “Mean Machine” celebrates her one-month anniversary with the team. Peter de Ridder’s aware that it isn’t good enough to just have a great team and a boat to win the Volvo Ocean Race…it’s all about preparation. By the end of the month, friend of Mean Machine and expert in his field, Rolf Vrolijk, is announced as the designer of the brand new round the world entry.
There’s always time for a spot of racing though, and the Mean Machine Mumm 30, fresh from a win at the World’s in December, takes on the Acura Key West Regatta, and finishes tied on points with the winners, coming second overall despite having some brand new crewmembers onboard.
It’s been a positive and exciting start to the New Year.
FEBRUARY
The VO 70 Mean Machine number 20 is on the team’s home soil, in a very snowy Rotterdam. February means more test sailing and research into the sails, aerodynamics and design features. Also it means a chat with Dirk de Ridder, which you can find in our news archive…although you’ll have another chance to get to know him better coming up soon.
MARCH
More tests for the VO 70, as Peter and the team weigh up their Volvo chances, and more racing, as they grab the Mumm 30 class titles with both hands. The Machines are in sunny Miami again, this time for the last race in the Mumm 30 season. In true Mean Machine style, they go out with a bang.
With Peter de Ridder at the helm and Jon Swain on tactics, the team makes a some more Mean Machine history. They win the Acura Miami Grand Prix comfortably and also taken home the Acura Miami Award for the Mumm 30 class. This trophy goes to the team with the best combined score in the Acura Key West (in January) and Acura Miami Grand Prix.
We also have a chat with Mean Machine heavyweight Ray Davies about his ambitions in the past, present and future.
APRIL
April is the starter month for the TP 52 season, and time for the team to focus and get ‘mean’. In 2006 Mean Machine made a storming debut onto the TP52 Circuit, virtually wiping out the competition. The challenge is on the table this year, and Mean Machine has a double Breitling MedCup crown to defend, but with new 2007 models hitting this year’s circuit, it’s gonna be a tough one. The team announce their new sponsor for their TP52 – Valle Romano get onboard, and “Mean Machine – Valle Romano” is born.
The season’s first regatta is the famous Hublot Palmavela in Mallorca. Mean Machine proves it’s not just about ‘who’s got the newest boat’ by taking the Hublot Palmavela Trophy home to add to the display cabinet. An added bonus is the 8-point lead over the entry in second place. It bodes well for the upcoming Breitling MedCup Circuit.
MAY
This month Peter de Ridder gets to grips with the VO 70 and also celebrates his birthday. It turns out to be a very special one… the team prove that any class is a winning ticket for them by winning the first stage of the North Sea Regatta and smashing a record at the same time. Racing against some 50 other boats from Harwich (UK) to Scheveningen (Holland) De Ridder’s team bring the record for the 185 mile leg down by over eight hours, and take line honours at the same time.
JUNE
‘Valencia 2007’ means one thing only – America’s Cup. Ray Davies, Joe Allen, Jono Macbeth, Tony Rae, Stu Bettany and Tom Dodson are temporarily off the Mean Machine crew list, as they’re busy taking part in possibly the world’s most important sailing event. It’s not in vain – the six Mean Machine crew members add a victory on Team New Zealand in the prestigious Louis Vuitton Cup to their sailing CVs.
The remaining crew start the Breitling MedCup with fire in their bellies and their sights firmly set on hold onto that crown. The first of the five events is the Alicante Trophy. Mean Machine shows she’s as ´mean´as ever and finishes second overall and first in the Corinthian category.
JULY
Did you know that there are seven different nationalities represented on the Mean Machine crew? Or that 35 sandwiches are taken onboard for each race? This month we give you Mean Machine by numbers.
The entire team is back together in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) for the Breitling Regatta. The victory they so desire doesn’t materialise, but Mean Machine wins the last race in the regatta, and shows the ‘Old Lady’s’ still got what it takes to take on the mighty fleet. Mean Machine suffers the blow of a 50 point penalty in the Coastal Race, and are forced to make a sad announcement for the team: Mean Machine are withdrawing from the Volvo Ocean Race project. It’s a tough moment for the team, but it’s a decision reached by extensive analysis and investigation. Peter de Ridder always said he’d only go if he was going to win, and preparation is key for a challenge of this nature. Unfortunately there’s neither enough time, nor money to go to the race to win, so the team concentrate on their other powerful one-design projects and relax by playing a few holes at the Valle Romano Golf Resort in the South of Spain.
AUGUST
The King’s Cup sees the team finish ninth overall. Mean Machine goes out in style though, and the winning last race tradition is born. It’s a storming victory, and some consolation after a tough regatta.
Mean Machines are not very good at taking a rest, or putting their feet up between races… and Ray Davies, Dirk de Ridder and Jules Salter are no exception. The trio kick back by taking on the Fastnet Race. It’s one of the most treacherous around – and they smash a record in the process, shaving just under 9 hours off the previous record for the race, in one of the most dramatic editions yet, with 191 entries abandonning the course. It was certainly a good way to prepare for Portimao and the Portugal Trophy, where the team demolish their opponents and sweep a confident and impressive victory.
SEPTEMBER
Mean Machine has some good news this month – that there are two new arrivals on the way! The 21st Mean Machine, a Farr 40; and Mean Machine 22, a brand new Vrolijk-designed TP 52 which to be built in New Zealand, ready for the 2008 season.
September is a busy month for the crew, as it’s the end of the Breitling MedCup Circuit and also the Rolex Global TP 52 Championships. Despite mixed performances in this year’s Circuit, the team are still eager to go out with a bang and get as close as possible to the podium… “giving up” isn’t a concept that exists in the Mean Machine vocabulary.
The final Breitling MedCup event is in Hyères in the South of France. The time has come for Mean Machine to finally hand over her crown. The team finishes sixth in this regatta and fifth, tied on points with the forth place entry in the Breitling MedCup Circuit. It’s the best 2006 boat by far, and, as the result demonstrates, it’s better than some of the 2007 entries too. The final result is a respectable addition to the Mean Machine list of achievements, but you can be sure they´ll be fighting even harder next year. Mean Machine continues the tradition of winning the last race… this is getting spooky! A powerful and impressive “Artemis” won the Circuit itself.
The TP52 Global Championships bring Mean Machine a taste of what they’re used to… that podium feeling. The 2006 boat takes on the crème of the world fleet and finishes third. It just goes to show there’s no stopping the Machine!
OCTOBER
Stop Press! The Mean Machines have a break from racing!
There’s a still a lot going on behind the scenes, as Peter de Ridder prepares for yet another one-design challenge.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
November belongs to Mean Machine number 21, the new Farr 40. Like her brothers and sisters this new Farr 40 certainly puts up a good fight. In her first outing to the Miami Farr 40 10th Anniversary Regatta she does the family proud with a third place overall. It’s a great way of staying on top form and an exciting and dynamic class to sail in. With more races in store for the New Year, it’s well worth keeping an eye out for. The new Farr 40 reveals a new modern, ‘cleaner’ Mean Machine after a spot of ‘making over’: Mean Machine has a new look.
As a special treat in December we also let you get “Up close and Personal” with Mr Mean Machine himself: Peter de Ridder. In our first in-depth Mean Machine interview you can find out what makes him tick, what his best sailing memories are, his burning ambitions. It’s a must for any Mean Machine fan…or in fact any sailing fan, as Peter shares his experience with us.
So, now we’re here, a few choccies later, having journeyed back through the year; the highs, the lows, the thrills, the spills… all that’s left is to see what the future will bring.
We’ll leave that to you to ‘watch this space’.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
From all at the Mean Machine HQ
