Sandlesracing Blog

Around the world in the coolest boat.

Here’s another interesting site about an epic journey. It’s called Earthrace and this has to be the coolest looking boat in the world, and environmentally friendly too. Here’s how they describe their challenge.

Earthrace is a bid to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat, and using only renewable fuels. The program includes an 18-month tour calling at 60 of the worlds great cities, promoting fuels like biodiesel, and raising awareness about sustainable use of resources.

Circumnavigating the globe represents the pinnacle of powerboat challenges, and at 24,000 nautical miles, is also the world’s longest race. The current record of 75 days was set by British boat Cable & Wireless in 1998.

The Earthrace aims to smash this record by completing the voyage in less than 65 days, and will mark the first time in history that an official UIM Powerboat record will be attempted using renewable fuel.

You can visit their website www.earthrace.net for the latest on their journey. The record attempt starts on March 6 2007.

Crossing the Atlantic by jetski?

I recently came across this site, www.atlantic07.co.uk for 4 guys who want to ride from Liverpool to New York on their jetskis. I think it’s a great ambition, but looking at the site, I can’t see any riding experience mentioned. Are they just “Sunday Steves”?

I’ve done a bit of sea riding, and I’ve been out in seas where the waves were as a big as a house. It’s pretty frightening. I’ve got good machine control being an ex-racer, but I can’t imagine tackling the Atlantic.

I hope these guys do well, it will be great publicity for jetskiing if they succeed. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Dodgy suit cam?

Here’s a little video I made of a ski trip me and Row did a couple of years ago. It’s more about the style of skiers you see around on the slopes. I never realised just how many people have horrendous taste.

Anyway, here it is. Enjoy. Watch dodgy suit cam.

All my crazy friends 3

It’s out again, a load of crazy people doing crazy things, makes Jackass look a bit boring really. Here’s what they say about the movie:

“All My Crazy Friends 3, Live Fast, Die Fat”, The cult classic that helped inspire the sub-culture of Freeriding as well as the pioneer of all the stupid stunts you see on TV has reared its ugly head for one more round. After a 5 year hiatus the boys at Fast Times Films pulled it all together one more time to make one of the most anticipated films in years. Filmed on location in Brazil, Bali, Spain, Mexico, Australia and all over the United States, ..Live Fast Die Fat, combines the best watercraft and action sports athletes with an insane soundtrack of some of today’s hottest bands to give you exactly what you want, All My Crazy Friends.

You can watch the movie trailer here.

Fixing cars, curry and fireworks!

We went to a bonfire night at some friends house on the 5th for fireworks and a meal. They’re really friends of our parents, but we didn’t have much else to do that Sunday evening so we went.

There were quite a few people there, mainly english people over 55, some french with kids and us. One of the english guys is a judge called John, and the first time we met him was at the same friends house a few months ago. He came to this particular party in his vintage 2CV. When it came time to go home, he was a bit too drunk, and tried to talking franglais to Row, like this:

John: Ah, bonjoor, voose et ici pour fixer mon vwachoor? (just in case this means hello, are you here to fix my car?)

Row (looking a bit perplexed wondering why he’s speaking in french): Oui.

John: Vouse parlay onglay? (Do you speak english?)

Row: yes

John: vouse parlay onglay beeyan? (do you speak good english?)

Row: yes quite well actually

David (another english friend): he’s english John.

John: ah yes ok, vouse prefuray je parler fronsay (would you prefer I speak french).

Row: we can speak english if you want, I’m english.

John: ah yes, I’m english too, so you speak english quite well.

Row and David: yes I’m english.

John: oh, you’re english, well that makes things easier.

Meanwhile, me, my dad and Wayne (whose house it is) are falling around laughing. Row starts to work on John’s “car”, the whole time he’s in and out, talking jibberish and repeating it as well, mixing in the odd wet fart here and there, and not batting an eyelid.

We decide the car wasn’t repairable there and then, which was just as well because he wanted to drive home, he could hardly walk!

We had a curry party last night at some other friends house, where John was once again a guest, but wasn’t drunk. It’s a shame really coz when he’s sober he’s sooooo boring. I was losing the will to live listening to him and his wife talk about rescuing bikes and padlocks from the river outside their house! I have to say though, the curry was quite hot and the dogs fur looks a bit singed now after the amount of farting that’s been going on in our house!