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AUDACIOUS
AUDACIOUS has been continually updated and has now been optimised to sail under IRC rating as dictated by the new race rules. It will be interesting to see if she can remain competitive.
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Paul Peggs - Skipper
Morse Blaker - Co-Skipper
We, Paul and Morse, first met during the 1989 Fastnet race when Morse stepped in to crew at the 11th hour, since which we have sailed together in many crewed and shorthanded races. We both come from a dinghy sailing background. Morse started sailing at Benfleet YC as a boy and Paul started sailing at 13 years old.
Our first taste of shorthanded racing was in 1999 when we built identical boats to enter into the MiniTransat race of that year. Despite both of us completing the qualifying criteria only Paul managed to gain an entry as the race was over subscribed. However due to the very bad weather conditions in the Mini Transat that year Paul retired after 5 days with a broken mast. We carried on sailing in the Mini 6.50 class planning to enter the 2001 Mini Transit race from La Rochelle to Salvador Brazil, but the same thing happened again, Paul gained a place in the race but Morse had to sit on the side lines. Paul broke his mast again on the first night but managed to sail to Bilbao under jury rig where Morse was waiting with his mast. Paul went on to complete the race.
With Mini Transats out of our system we decided to enter the 2002 Round Britain race. Paul bought a JOD 35, Audacious, which was modified with water ballast and bigger sails. Morse could not sail the whole course so Simon Curwen a very accomplished Mini Transat sailor sailed the first two legs with Morse sailing from Barra to Plymouth on the final 3 legs, finishing 1st in class 4 and 8th overall.
Since then we have had other successes with Audacious including winning the Royal Southampton YC two-handed series in 2003 and coming 2nd in the Solent to Santander race. Paul has also sailed Audacious singlehanded coming 2nd in class in the 2004 Petit Bateau Race around Biscay race and 2nd in class in the 2005 Petit Bateau race week.
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