Marking the end of the Med Season last week, the Voile de St Tropez saw some interesting conditions… Steve Branagh was on board with Django Unchained (ex Highland Fling):

¨Day1: Tough first race yesterday at the Voile du St Tropez. The committee started us in 6 knots that rapidly died and turned the race into a slow motion drifting event. After an hour the breeze increased to around 7 knots and the fleet reaches out to the top mark under Code Zeros, gybed and reached back in to the finish. We finished with a 7th in the middle of the fleet.

All week we had been nursing an engine issue which in turn meant we were struggling to get the hydraulic power required to run all the sailing functions onboard. On Wednesday we could not get the engine started so while the guys worked on trying to solve the issue we towed out to the start line to make sure that we were close if or when they got the issue solved. Unfortunately the issue took longer and we had to watch as the fleet started and sailed into the distance.

The team worked hard on Wednesday evening to get the engine started and finally they had a break through and got it running… however Thursday was a lay day with no fleet racing planned so a fun afternoon was spent with various crews enjoying lunch at the world famous Club 55.

On Friday we got out to the start line with an engine that was prone to stop whenever more than one winch was operated. We got a fantastic start in the super light conditions and with limited hydraulic power but a crew that were bouncing halyards and top handling winches to try to ease the spluttering engine we managed to take a 5th place.

Once back on the mooring buoy the engine works started again, however by Saturday morning no improvement had been made and with a forecast of strong easterly winds for the overnight delivery to La Spezia the decision was made to pack the boat for the delivery, avoid the heavy rain that was forecast and head into St Tropez for lunch while watching the tracker to see how the fleet were getting on racing in no wind and heavy rain.

As we finished lunch the race was abandoned leaving frustrated, soaked crews out on the race course and the new owner of Django happy that he had definitely made the right call!

It’s been a great pleasure sailing this boat for the last 13 years as Highland Fling XI. We have sailed regattas all over the world and won so many trophies, always with an amazing crew and well prepared boat. With the change of ownership and name (now Django Unchained) there will be a winter refit planned before the 2023 season when, with out a doubt, the boat will return to the race course ready to start winning again!¨

Steve Branagh, RSB Founder and Race Crew.