Cowes to Monte-Carlo 2013 - Page 19

Mike Lloyd · 12-11-2011, 04:51 PM

La Ciotat, what a beautiful town and harbour, small but very pretty and they should just be able to squeeze us in but there is a lot more to discuss and sort out with various officials (French!) before conclusion. Will have to go back again shortly unfortunately. This will make for a great Venue if we can get a couple of problems ironed out.

Not impressed with trying to drive through Marseilles - bleeding nightmare and the sat nav couldn't cope! Hope they get all those road improvements sorted by 2013.

Mike Lloyd · 18-11-2011, 05:14 PM

I found out in the Round Britain Race in 2008, sometimes, for a variety of reasons, all of the careful arrangements made can suddenly disappear like the morning mist and a venue falls over.

For one reason or another I have had the feeling recently that Brest, a very important venue and our first after leaving the UK wasn’t feeling right. No one was returning my emails and phone calls! Being some 250 nautical miles away and in France it wasn’t easy trying to find out what was going wrong especially with so few people over there speaking English!

One of the advantages of having been in the powerboat fraternity for many years is that you get to know a lot of people. Peter Dredge suggested that I contact a couple of old friends of ours who live close to Brest in France having retired over there some years ago, a well known couple from the Powerboat Scene for many years and in particular from the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Poole – Tony and Dawn Lewis.

Phoning Tony I asked if he could help, before I know it he and Dawn jump in their car and shoot off to Brest some 80 miles away with a friend who speaks the lingo and today I receive an email saying that now all is well and Brest is on side and being extremely helpful. All I can say is thank God for friends like Tony and Dawn for getting us out of the mire! We live to fight the next challenge!

We will make it up to you Tony & Dawn when we arrive in Brest, the drinks will be on me!!
ML.
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hunton69 · 18-11-2011, 10:14 PM

Even though were not in this race we love your updates

Keep going Mike enjoy those dirty weekends away err research weekends

Mike Lloyd · 18-11-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunton69

Even though were not in this race we love your updates

Keep going Mike enjoy those dirty weekends away err research weekends

Dirty weekends? I wish!!
ML.
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lain · 19-11-2011, 03:09 PM

http://www.cowestomontecarlo.com/ website is down

Mike Lloyd · 19-11-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lain

http://www.cowestomontecarlo.com/ website is down

Yup, know that, changing hosts as that one was rubbish!

Mike Lloyd · 28-11-2011, 10:13 AM

Web Site has been down now for almost a week. Really annoying. Have had to start again from scratch with a new host. We should be up and going in about 48hrs. Dedicated server this time at enormous expense but necessary with the number of hits we have been getting each day and growing fast.
ML.
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Mike Lloyd · 07-12-2011, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lloyd

Web Site has been down now for almost a week. Really annoying. Have had to start again from scratch with a new host. We should be up and going in about 48hrs. Dedicated server this time at enormous expense but necessary with the number of hits we have been getting each day and growing fast.
ML.
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What a tricky couple of weeks! I was a bit optimistic re above. Still waiting!
I don't know whether it's the full moon, new moon or whatever but life is certainly "challenging" right now.
ML.
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Mike Lloyd · 09-12-2011, 09:28 AM

Web site up and going again - at last. Latest Blog report there.

ML.
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hunton69 · 10-12-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lloyd

Web site up and going again - at last. Latest Blog report there.

ML.
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It looks just like the last one

Mike Lloyd · 10-12-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunton69

It looks just like the last one

Of course it is - for explanation read the blog on the web site!!!
ML.
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hunton69 · 10-12-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lloyd

Of course it is - for explanation read the blog on the web site!!!
ML.
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I only look at the pictures

Mike Lloyd · 14-12-2011, 09:12 PM

Well the good news is that we (my interpreter & I) found the best one of the three marinas here but it took four meetings and and a full on non stop day until the last appointment at 16.30pm. By that time I was on my knees! Too tired to go into details now, I need a couple of pints and some sleep. Will post further when I get home tomorrow, Barcelona is a beautiful city (even in the rush hour!!) and will be a two day lay over venue with all the trimmings!
ML
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Mike Lloyd · 16-12-2011, 08:23 AM

Full report on Barcelona on the web site blog. Picture here as it wouldn't upload. We will be mored on the left (with pontoons) where the Superyachts are in the pic.
ML.

Mike Lloyd · 25-12-2011, 12:47 PM

A few days rest because 2012 is going to be a VERY busy year, so much to do but now it's excess time. Lead me to that Christmas lunch and all that lovely wine. Merry Christmas and a great New Year to you all.
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Mike Lloyd · 01-01-2012, 03:30 PM

Flights and Hotel booked for the 20th Jan. Off down to South of France to confirm the penultimate venue, fly in one day, have the usual necessary meetings (in French) and fly back next day. As there appears to be a certain lack of interest from La Ciotat (their loss not ours, there was a lot of huffing and puffing when we asked their permission for 45/50 powerboats to stay overnight in their Marina!! Pity really, there is a great night club/restaurant there who were looking forward to us coming), we have found another venue which is looking pretty fantastic as well so fingers crossed. Have to get the Boat Show over first though.
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Mike Lloyd · 22-01-2012, 10:03 AM

What a brilliant find, arrived Friday midday, explored the site and the facilities, talked the race over with the authorities, agreed a deal and flew back yesterday. Port Camargue in Southern France (check it out on Google Earth) is to be our penultimate venue before Monte-Carlo. It’s a huge Marina with 4,000 berths - with so many facilities that we are wondering whether we should stay here for two days rather just one, it's that nice. It would also allow those who had broken down at some stage of the event to catch up for the final 170 mile run to the finish.

Just a spectacular part of the world and the racers will be able to see the coast line from 25 miles away as they come across the bay – on a good day!

All Venues visited and agreed now. Will have to go back to see them all again later this year to ensure that they don't fall over. It has been known!
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Mike Lloyd · 31-01-2012, 07:07 PM

Meetings today with our new international partners will have secured World Wide TV and Film distribution of the race, and also full Event and Media organisation. It's good to be working with professional organisations who share the vision. All will be revealed at the March briefing - and much more!
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Salty Balls · 31-01-2012, 11:45 PM

Dayum.....!
You're not playing shop here, are You, Mike...
Let's see........teeth whitener.......Reggie hair dye.....

Mike Lloyd · 01-02-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Balls

Dayum.....!
You're not playing shop here, are You, Mike...
Let's see........teeth whitener.......Reggie hair dye.....

Is that for you or are suggesting that I need these enhancements because if you are it's way to late for me to start down that route!