Mr Paul Blande, Chefmeister on Heartbeat IV had the first opportunity to shave of his MoBro moustache – grown for prostate and testicular cancer charities. Go to the MoBro website and search his name and if possible donate an amount to charity in response to his stirling efforts at we think being the person to […]
News / blog
MoBro – Movember Moustache for Charity
December 4th, 2012Day 7 into 8
December 3rd, 2012Saturday night exceeded others – 8h of massive electrical storms – lots of electrical issues pre-empted by disconnecting all hard-wired equipment – 39 knot squall (one of many) which ended up with needing to run off at 300 degrees for 20 minutes. Rain coming down was denser than the water we were sailing through. 1245h […]
Day 7
December 3rd, 2012After 7 days barely seeing another boat at about 2230h Friday a boat was spotted about 0.5 mile to windward. Who should it be but Selene. So > 1000 miles into the Atlantic with > 200 other boats to see, Heartbeat IV and Selene meet up; have adjacent moorings on the River Crouch in Essex, […]
Days 4 and 5 – trials and tribulations
November 29th, 2012Well now we now about rain and squalls. Wednesday night truly wet, wild and windy – up to 35 knots, biggish rollers and disturbed seas. Took decision to revert to two watches as unpredictability of conditions meant needed faster reaction time. Good overnight run and began to settle and then had to cut reef 2 […]
Day 3
November 29th, 2012Day 3 and Heartbeat IV is heading ~ 270 degrees. Under spinnaker and mainsail – wind 12-20 knots NE to East. Bright sunshine and warm at last after a pretty grim first two days more reminiscent of beating up to Smith’s Knoll in May on the North Sea Race. After slowish start down the Gran […]
Shades of the 2007 Fastnet
November 26th, 2012Delayed start for most of fleet but Racing Division A and B due to start tomorrow.. Conditions not ideal with South, South Westerly 20 knots ++. Not quite what was ordered We start on the Inshore line at 1245. Team all present and correct – Judy, Jason, Karen, Nicola, Trevor, Ian, Roger, Paul, Russell – […]
Preparations continue – team is arriving
November 22nd, 2012Now have Ian, Russell, Karen, Jude, Jason, Trev and Paul here. Have built second spin pole, sorting satphone links, have hauled out, anode replacement and scrubbed, provisioning today. Have been in contact with Adrian from Selene and Mike from Dufour 45e, Patience. ARC Masqued Party last night. A few pics of what’s been happening […]
ARC Opening Ceremony
November 18th, 2012Only Paul Blande and Trevor Bassett in Gran Canaria at present, but flew the flag at the opening ceremony – note HB IV strip highly visible amongst the others!
Not long to go!!
November 11th, 2012The WCC Transatlantic Race starts on Sunday 25th November in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria (http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/). The race is 2700 miles, finishing in St Lucia. We will be sailing Heartbeat IV – Dufour 45e in the Racing Division. There are two boats from the Royal Burnham Yacht Club racing in this division, the other being Adrian […]
Heartbeat IV arrives in Gran Canaria
September 8th, 2012Heartbeat IV arrived in Las Palmas Marina early this afternoon. Well done to Trev, Paul, Ian and Marcus and thanks. The first beer on arrival is pictured below. We assume the second on the left is Mr Blande’s.
Off the Portuguese coast.
September 1st, 2012….hard at work…
Congratulations to Inn Spirit..
September 1st, 2012……and Alan Bartlett and the team for winning the Burnham-on-Crouch Town Cup. Wish we’d been there to see it. But here’s a pic of Inn Spirit anyway!
On way to Gran Canaria
September 1st, 2012HB set off last Tuesday – delivered to Weymouth by Scott and Will. Then left last Thursday with Ian, Paul, Trevor and Marcus. Brisk sail south to Brest. Stopover and then on to Dufour at La Rochelle for work on rig. Brief stopover and set off on 30th August to cross Bay. Have now turned South and on […]
Burnham
August 9th, 2012Back in Burnham Yacht Harbour – sails off for review – watermaker awaiting installation. Engine serviced. Electronics review underway. Winches being serviced tomorrow. Plans for victualling far advanced. Charts on way. Review of comms systems. Review of rigging. Liferaft ordered. Complete strip out and replace. Safety check compliance. So not much to do?
Getting There!
August 4th, 2012Heartbeat has spent the last couple of weeks in North Fambridge and her hull has now been prepped. Assorted jobs such as new water inlet for watermaker, replacement of seacocks have been undertaken and electronics are being reviewed and simplified. Today (August 4th) she will return to Burnham Yacht Harbour for electronics work and watermaker […]
Heartbeat IV almost home
July 1st, 2012Dani Motoring up the Crouch ETA now 1800h. Multiple Pan-Pan and Mayday on way up. Lovely SWesterly up to about Force 7. Sun, wind and rain. A few more pics below and above: Hope that all who did the East Coast Race and are doing EAORA Week have had or are having a good time and […]
Weymouth to Burnham
July 1st, 2012En route from Weymouth to Burnham. ETA 1900h 1 7 2012. Crew – Jason, Judy, Dani, Grace, Trev, Paul, Nick, Marcus. Passed Dungeness ~0700. Dover ~ 0930. 20 knots SW.
Heartbeat IV is in La Rochelle
June 17th, 2012We are hoping she will be back to the East Coast in time for the CannonBall Race……..but not getting over-excited!
Porto De Leixoes to La Rochelle
April 8th, 2012We’re hoping Heartbeat will be in La Rochelle sometime this week for some maintenance work to be done by Dufour. Still aiming to be back in Burnham for Ralph Herring/Pattinson Cup weekend. This will be dependent on time in La Rochelle. Have been liaising with team ‘Patience’ a Dufour 45e that did the ARC in […]
Gibraltar to Porto de Leixoes
March 8th, 2012HB IV is currently in Gibraltar and will set off on March 19th for a 400 mile hop to Porto de Leixoes in Portugal. The next stage (volunteers anyone?) will be to La Rochelle where Dufour will undergo some work before returning to the UK for the EAORA Season. Otherwise plans are storming ahead for […]