This year’s crew of Nomad 1 are all graduates of Nomad Sailing. For the second year now Jim & Lou have let us loose on their beloved Jeanneau Sunfast 37′. Lou is skippering Dignity, another Sunfast 37′ and is determined to beat us.
Pete ‘The Knot’ May – Skipper
Likes to think of himself (that’s him on the left) as a really good ‘natural’ sailor, who could have been in the Olympics if he’d taken it up sooner – or wasn’t so well packed with ballast. When not sailing, he’s busy day dreaming about sailing and fantasising about his abilities thereof.
Sailing history – several bare back trips to Turkey – generally what lacks in wind is made up for with Raki and diving off the bow into gorgeous blue waters. Has also chartered several boats on the Solent, including skippering one around the island in May 2012 (and running aground!) It’s all about learning from the experiences, he likes to think. Writes occasionally on this blog
Sailing ambitions – having restored his father’s 27′ yacht Windchat he’s looking forward to the maiden voyage after it was handed over to him. Generally mucking about on boats as much as possible.
Bob Munday – First Mate
Got the bug whilst traveling in Australia and spent far longer than planned in the Whitsundays sailing retired Maxi yachts in a truly stunning environment whist allegedly working.
Recent experience is a little closer to home having qualified as Day Skipper in the Solent and subsequently enjoying many bareboat charters and weekend trips in the Solent and along the south coast.
Really looking forward to my fifth consecutive RTIR and beating the time set in 2012. My ambitions are now simply to somehow find more time for sailing…
Paul Blacknell – Crew
I caught the sailing bug in 2010 and have grabbed every opportunity to sail since. Soon after my family trained as Competent Crew and we bareboat chartered in the Ionian islands in 2011 having an outstanding time and in Croatia in 2014. In 2013, I passed my Yachtmaster Coastal exam in Plymouth. I’ve crewed on Nomad 1 in all the Round the Island races since 2011 and vow to enter in each of my remaining years.
Other ambitions? Well, having completed a few channel crossings I’d like to take on more ambitious deliveries perhaps to the Mediterranean. I think I’m also up for the Fastnet.
Debbie Baines – Crew
I grew up messing around on boats, rowing, fishing and sailing and it took me some time to psych myself up to do the Day Skipper qualification. It was the best thing I ever did and it really fired up my enthusiasm for sailing! Since then I have bareboat chartered on the Solent and in Turkey with friends. More recently, I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to crew on some fantastic delivery trips around Europe with some remarkable people and I have become strangely addicted to night sailing.
This is my first RTIR, but I have a bit of a competitive streak so I suspect it may not be my last.
As for ambitions – more of it all, coastal skipper and maybe even the Atlantic!
Wayne Lloyd – Crew
I’ve loved the sea and boats from a young age and was fortunate enough to buy my first boat in my early 20’s. Unfortunately it was a motor yacht (cue shaking of heads and constant tutting!)
I was always keen to start sailing but never found the time to begin my learning journey. It took till 2011 when I was actively looking for a getaway from work when I bit the bullet and embarked on my day skipper. I’ve loved every minute since then and I find it one of the few times when I’m forced to switch off from the daily rat race. This is my second RTIR and in addition I’ve completed a few bareboat charters with friends. My previous RTIR was in 2013, when conditions were simply perfect!!!
I’ve been fortunate enough to sail with all of the crew onboard this year on various different trips but never all together. I love the social side of sailing and have met some fantastic people from all walks of life (the crew are actually making me write this piece). I’m sure this year’s race onboard will be full of constant laughs and I’m really looking forward to it!