Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » Sailonline Yacht Club » WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING

Posted by
WIN


Users avatar

Posts
349
Registered at
2009-07-09 23:32:07
2016-12-31 16:47:57 - WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
Hey !! …do not jump on your seat ! ..I am not going anywhere ……..;)

BUT ….SIMPLY …..:

In 2015 I had given myself two SOL objectives : SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP and TIMED CHAMPIONSHIP ….No one would have been able to convince me to go for the SUPERSOLER . A great deal of energy to tackle the OCEAN CHAMPIONSHIP would be needed = NO WAY !!!!!! ..;)

I ended up second in both Championships , beaten by SLL ( Sprint Legend Lou ) in SPRCH and trashed by rumskib in TRCH. Although I value a second place in a year-long Championship a great result , I said to myself : “ In 2016 ……. I HAVE TO “.

So….in 2016 I gave myself two objectives : SUPERSOLER and SPRCH . This meant a full year long concentration , eight LOOOOONG Ocean races , where one has to jump out of bed much earlier in the morning than my actual “pensioner” standards, and regulating life and commitments on SOL calendar. I am sure that all I wanted was to be able to demonstrate to myself that I could still do something like that , in spite of my falling energies.

It all started with a one and half months long race ( SFO – NYC ) , and with unbelievable and hammering bad luck ….BUT…..I achieved both goals much ahead of year’s end, and at the very end of the season guess what ? …. I have just won ALSO the Ocean Championship although it was not a goal ( of course ), drawing ( with interests ) the credit I had with luck since the SFO – NYC race !!

This puts me in a feeling that I have nothing more to demonstrate to myself ( SOL wise ), so I matured a while ago a decision that I am here announcing to you ALL my SOL friends.

I RETIRE WINSTON_4 FROM AGONISTIC COMPETITIVE SAIL-RACING IN SOL.

I will continue to do what I have been doing so far behind the scenes , and support the activities and plans of our platform like before and more than before.

I will surely be again in the water randomly during the year , when time permits , in races of “MY” length and duration, BUT in a non-competitive fashion , and surely disregarding a few updates , specially the 0430Z one !! ;)

I am still undecided about completing the RTWR ( legs 3 and 4 ). I love my boat as much as WIN loves me , and perhaps I will not want to decommission him in AUK and might bring him home. ( sorry ..a boat named Winston cannot really be a “she“ ) ;)

I plan to be present and available…….and you can rest assured that when in the water I will still fight , but in a much more relaxed manner !! :)

In the early days of WIN sailing on the SOL waters a very special partnership started with one very special SOLer : Ita10267 . I owe him everything WIN accomplished in SOL , and I will always be his wingman if one day he and I will again be in the SOL waters together. When I told him a few days ago that I would retire he said to me that only few do so when they still win and he mentioned a recent name that I do not dare quoting…..as the comparison is HUGE exaggeration , but the concept still stands : WIN wants to leave victory memories in SOL :)

Besides : looking at stats , it seems that WIN is the boat with the biggest historical “Palmares” in SOL . Well guys …..be careful ! don’t even try ! …I will be checking those stats from time to time , and if I see that ANYONE is approaching……….I WILL BE BACK !!!!!!!

Ciaoooooooooooooo and have great SOL time in 2017 !!!

Piero
;)
Posted by
RainbowChaser


Users avatar

Posts
2656
Registered at
2009-06-14 09:44:50
2016-12-31 17:09:31 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
What a wonderful post! To "leave" on a high is always the best way to go and those of us in the less-competitive remaining fleet now welcome you to our midst.

It takes a calm mind and a great sense of humour to be happy/accepting of being uncompetitive, but, of course, it also means that you can sleep well at night. Picking a personal matchracing target is always fun, though!

Until, of course, some competition is just too delicious to ignore!

:-D
___________



--- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2016-12-31 17:23:23 ---
Posted by
JB


Users avatar

Posts
305
Registered at
2013-03-07 08:54:34
2016-12-31 18:16:07 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
Viva all.

There are some persons that never leave us.

Piero, you are one of them.

Big Hug
J/psail
Sail Fair.
Posted by
Neuroman


Users avatar

Posts
12
Registered at
2012-07-18 12:18:00
2017-01-01 13:11:40 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
You will miss us, but you really deserve some relax. Congratulation for all, my dear friend.q
Posted by
Svein


Users avatar

Posts
84
Registered at
2009-05-04 15:09:20
2017-01-01 14:38:24 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
My friend Piero,
Piero and WINSTON_4 are just other ways of saying EXCELLENCE.
Thanks for demonstrating it to us.
Posted by
Dingo


Users avatar

Posts
94
Registered at
2013-03-09 04:23:58
2017-01-03 01:08:38 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
Ciao Piero and WINSTON_4, first of all congratulations on a great palmares!! and enjoy the first relaxing months of 2017 free of the all-nighters and the untimely WX updates.

I will miss you on the waters as it was always fun to race you, and to enjoy your occasional posts in the chat during the race.

I always find it a little strange racing some boats who almost never have a word to say even during a long ocean race.

But your interventions were always amusing, personal, and often self-deprecating, which has given us all a wonderful insight into your personality.

When perhaps the greatest thing about SOL is the camaraderie amongst skippers around the world, it's been great to have a BIG personality both working behind the scenes and also racing hard!

I too have decided to slow down this year, and definitely to keep my SOLing to normal hours and to a minimum actually on the computer at each update time. I figure a bit of life balance is a good thing.

But I know that you will sneak back at every opportunity once you've had a rest, as it is an addictive game, so I look forward to seeing the new WINSTON_4 sometime not too far away I hope.
A big cheers, a big congratulations, and a big thank you!

John (Dingo)
Posted by
Jawz


Users avatar

Posts
154
Registered at
2009-07-21 09:51:19
2017-01-04 12:13:27 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
Hi Piero

I just checked and I see that I did my first race 4 days after yours on 22 July 2009. Quite a lot of water passed under our boats since those days. Now whereas I have done over 744000 nm to gain only 3 wins you have done only half that and gained 80 wins!!!

What a legend!! Enjoy the sabbatical and I am glad you remain with SOL and in the engine room.

Regards
George - Jawz

...//...

:) There is a saying that there is no pill for stupid! I also have hugely cut back on my races and stick these days to the Ocean series largely. Not to get any more wins but my aim is to get to 1 million nautical miles!!!
Posted by
dikkehenk


Users avatar

Posts
66
Registered at
2012-02-24 15:03:37
2017-01-14 20:48:26 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
Pierrrrooo! hahahaha, so i was right in the chat , you are doing a Franci ! ! :)))
that why i only do long ocean races and skip the rest..and i only look at ranking for the race itself :) So, i do hope to see you on those races, since there you can miss a wx without to much loss.

--- Last Edited by dikkehenk at 2017-01-14 20:49:30 ---
Posted by
SWE_Robert


Users avatar

Posts
19
Registered at
2009-06-28 13:03:13
2017-02-08 20:59:59 - Re: WINSTON_4 RETIRES FROM COMPETITIVE SOL RACING
Just kidding, if I know you the way I think I do ! :))
Robert

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Red Eye - Bimini Beach Run 2025

This time of year, already it is balmy in the Bahamas and the Biminis, if ever it is not; so let’s try and get some “Red Eye” enjoying the fine weather and a warm night, racing our appropriately luxurious and bombastic Gunboat 90, as always our craft of choice for this 250nm beach-running, island-hopping SOL classic through this multihull mecca!
Race #1845
INFOby brainaid.de
GB 90 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - RED
Race starts: May 21st 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Africa by Sea - Abidjan to Swakopmund


Our exploration of Africa by Sea continues. Next, it’s off to Swakopmund, on the water’s edge of the Kalahari desert. It’s a wind-blasted coast, and a venue of choice for those seeking to set wind-powered speed records. More likely than not, we’ll have to beat into it in our Steinlager II, to finally find some shelter behind the walls of Platz am Meer where there is a marina of sorts. Only 2200nm!
Race #1856
INFOby brainaid.de
Steinlager II PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - ABS
Race starts: May 14th 17:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Newport to Annapolis 2025


The Newport to Annapolis race, first held in 1947, is one of the most historic and well-known US East Coast blue water races. Linking two seaports dating from the US nation's birth, Annapolis and Newport, the race contrasts the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Since 1969, the route has run from Annapolis through the Chesapeake Bay to Newport. The SOLers will sail 470nm in their Carkeek40s in the original direction from Newport to Annapolis, including the Chesapeake, which is such a daunting challenge that the 1997–98 Whitbread Round the World Race for the Volvo Trophy added it to the course, as did the Volvo Ocean Race in 2002 and 2006.
Race #1912
INFO from brainaid.de
Carkeek 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking:
ARQ2 - ARCH - SUPSOL – SYC
RACE CLOSE: Tuesday,
May 20 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: May 12th 17:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Channel Islands TIMED Chase 2025

Join us in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey for a race around the Channel Islands in the J-109, a recent addition to the Sailonline fleet. The course takes us around the islands of Alderney and Jersey finishing back in Saint Peter Port. This is a TIMED race, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to try again, after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1915
INFO by brainaid.de
J-109 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ2 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
24 May at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: May 11th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Elephant Island to Marquesas 2025

Prepare to test your limits as we launch into the third leg of the RWW Series and the fifth leg of the 2025 Ocean Championship Series—an epic voyage from Elephant Island to the Marquesas in the heart of French Polynesia. This 4,700-nautical-mile challenge is a true test of endurance, strategy, and raw sailing adrenaline. Aboard the high-performance Volvo 70v4, competitors will face fierce headwinds as they round the legendary Cape Horn and make the thrilling transition from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Do you have what it takes to conquer the Pacific? Join us, and put your skills to the ultimate test.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1909
INFO by brainaid.de
VO70_v4 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ2 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: May 05th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Sinbad by Balloon 2025 - Toamasina to Baia de l'Oiseau


You may recall that when last we visited Madagascar in the company of Sinbad, the Sultan commanded our intrepid inspirator to seek out fabled islands where in Summer the sun barely set. We did and we returned but the Sultan wasn’t happy with Sinbad’s report, so here we go again, now by SOL Balloon instead of sailing vessel. Expect to be in the air for at least 2100nm and depending on how the wind brings us, anything between two weeks and two months before we shall descend at the Sultan’s given coordinates!
Race #1884
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - SBB
RACE CLOSE: Sunday,
May 18 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Apr 09th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Patrick70119
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member bonknhoot
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client