Welcome
Background
Smoke n' Oakum is a Grand Soleil 44 Race and was originally race in 2003 - 2007 at a very competitive level on the Italian race circuit; she was optimised for the IMS rule by the original yacht designer Judel/Vrolijk and boat builder Cantiere del Pardo. Her second owner took her over in 2007 and has been lightly sailed and generally stored. At the beginning of 2011, Dr. Steven Winstanley had purchased Smoke n' Oakum from Ancona on the Adriatic and is presently sailing the central Mediterranean, being base in Antibes, South-France.
IMS is a popular rule in the Mediterranean, but is sailed less elsewhere. Discussions with Judel/Vrolijk, Cantiere del Pardo and Technicompostite have come up with a set of recommendations to convert the yacht from IMS to IRC. Therefore, Smoke n' Oakum has been in the shipyard for 7 month in 2011 at an excellent French boat builder for a major refit. Smoke n' Oakum's refit has included: changes to the hull structure; fairing the keel; new folding prop & engine seal; new halyards and sheets; new sails; mast enhancements with a significant rig overhaul.
“Smoke n’ Oakum” meets and exceeds ISAF Offshore Special Requlations in terms of yacht design, saftey equipment and crew training for Category 2 offshore sailing. In addition, she is fully insured for 200nm offshore in UK and European waters, including the Mediterranian Sea.
Sailing 2012
“Smoke n’ Oakum” begins the year in Antibes South-of-France. The aim will be to set sail in late February and cruise to a number of destinations in the central Mediterranean. The plan is to be in Gibraltar by June 2012, where a week long sail will bring her to her new home in the Hamble-de-la-Rice on the South Coast of England. The yacht should be in time to do the Round the Island race, followed by August’s Cowes Week.
| Start | Finish | From | To | Miles | Comments |
| 24th Feb | 3rd Mar | Cannes | Torrevieja | 650 nm | Pre Spring-Series |
| 6th Apr | 14th Apr | Torrevieja | Gibraltar | 300 nm | Inc. Easter Bank Holiday Weekend |
| 9th Jun | 17th Jun | Gibraltar | Southampton | 900 nm | Inc. Accession Day |
Leg 1 includes: Cannes, Mahon, Palma, Ibiza, Torrevieja
Leg 2 includes: Torrevieja, Almeria, Marbella, Gibraltar.
Leg 3 includes: Gibraltar to Southampton non-stop.
| Skipper | Crew #1 | Crew #2 | Crew #3 | Crew #4 | Crew #5 | |
| Leg 1: | Steven | Graham | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| Leg 2: | Steven | Jim | Karl | Zara | Joanne | Open |
| Leg 3: | Steven | John | Graham | Jim | Richard | Open |
Crew Wanted
There is always a turn-over of crew on Smoke n’ Oakum, as with all yachts. Smoke n’ Oakum is always on the look-out for good crew that can bring new skills and experience to push her to her full potential.
Smoke n’ Oakum is a non-commercial, non-profit making squad. The persons onboard are there for the fun of yacht racing at the highest levels, as such, crew are expected to contribute in terms of racing crew, delivery crew, maintenance, administration and a small financial fee that covers race entry, yacht transport and small breakages. If you would like to find out more about crewing please contact us via the link to the right of this page.
Smoke n' Oakum 
