WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!YIPPPEEEE!!! THEY'VE DONE IT

I am very very pleased indeed to be able to write this and to tell you that Team Concordia and Hot Stuff have finished the Fastnet Race. The crew pulled out all the stops over the last 24 hours (after apparently something I said to them!!!) and Hookie is so proud of all the efforts they put in to make sure that they had a great run home - he said he couldn't have asked for more.
Apparently at Land's End on the way out they hit a hole (weather wise and not literally!!!) which really threw their positioning in the class and unfortunately it was not something they could make up on the way to the Rock but coming back Hot Stuff came into her own proving what a great downhill girl she is and they made up many places and have ended up 31st in class and currently 154th overall but with some boats in other classes to finish that could still change.
I was intrigued to find out about the MOD rations and apparently they were brilliant and Hookie is even thinking of serving the Chicken and Dumpling one at our next dinner party so beware if you're invited - apparently it would be hard to tell that it wasn't freshly cooked!!
The party starts in about 40 minutes and I am sure the lads will be having a glass of sherry or two to celebrate their achievements. A really big congrats to you all and we look forward to your safe return to Cowes on Sunday.
Also a big thankyou from me too for all the support everyone who has been tracking Hot Stuff has given. It's always good to know there's a cracking team shorebased looking out for the team and it's great for the crew to know this as well.
Hopefully the last word on this blog will be from the crew themselves on their return
AGAIN WELL DONE TEAM CONCORDIA AND HOT STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOING TO THE DENTIST MORE FUN THAN THIS?

Pulling teeth without anaesthetic, getting blood out of a stone, sleep deprivation with a newborn, chinese water torture or being made to watch big brother - all of these options seem to be slightly more attractive than the one the poor boys on Hot Stuff are faced with at the moment. I have calculated that in the two hours between 1400 and 1600hrs today they managed to progress 4.27 nautical miles!! Well at least the good news is that they progressed and are still heading in the right direction.
There is nothing worse than after a long race you get becalmed on your way home - you're ready to come on in and it's like your car has just run out of petrol in the middle of nowhere - in Hookie's case on the way to Ullapool after passing the last petrol station with an unimpressed wife as passenger - when that happened he said - it's fine we'll be fine - whether he is playing I-spy or first one to see with the crew at the moment I don't know but what we do know is that they will be watching the sea very carefully and looking up to the sky for any indication of windy hope.
Looking forward to an ETA soon.

UPDATE FROM HOT STUFF

Well it's 1415hrs on Thursday 13th August once again the weather has played it's part in this year's race. The latest update from the crew is that they are currently in a big drift and have been for several hours about 44 miles from the Scilly's. All the crew, as I am sure everyone else reading this is, are really hoping that it fills in soon so that they can get to the finish line.
They had hoped to be in for tomorrow morning but with the latest twist of fate that arrival time has been shot out the window now.
As soon as we hear more or can estimate a time of arrival I shall update the blog again.

Lots of thoughts please of winds pushing the boys home.

QUOTE FROM HOOKIE FROM THE BOAT

After rounding the rock the following quote has been sent through:

"It's big, it's grey but it hasn't beaten us yet. Crew looking forward to a nice run home." Hookie, on board Hot Stuff 1800hrs

ROUNDED THE ROCK

I am really pleased to confirm that Team Concordia and Hot Stuff rounded the Fastnet Rock at 1725hrs. Well done team.

NEARING THE ROCK

Team Concordia are nearing the Fastnet Rock still amongst the pack although seems that the weather has not been fair to them and they have slipped a few places. I am sure once they have turned the corner to return to Plymouth they will endeavour to claw their way back up. Either way they have done really well and are still mid fleet so should be really pleased.
I am sure we will be notified as soon as they have rounded and I am trying to see if we can get a few quotes from the guys on board if they have time.
ICAP Leopard took line honours this morning but didn't manage to break their record of last time.

ROUNDED LANDS END

The crew of Team Concordia aboard Hot Stuff have safely passed Land's End this morning and are now heading over the Irish Sea to the Fastnet Rock. The light winds of the night have meant that their position has slipped slightly but it looks as though they have taken a tactical decision on the route and hoping that this pays dividends - after all no one wants to be a sheep do they?!!!!
Fingers and toes are crossed that the Irish Sea doesn't throw up any surprises and I look forward to being able to report on their safe rounding of the rock.