T-minus 24 days to start of 2011 La Charentime-Martime to Bahia race

4:23 AM Fri 2 Sep 2011 GMT

'IMG 4570' scott cavanough Click Here to view large photo

With the clock ticking away we are now down to less than 24 days till the start of the 2011 La Charentime-Martime to Bahia race more commonly known as the Transat 650.

With the official entry list now out, there will be 80 solo sailors on the start line. Entries come for all around the corners of the globe from as far as china to the arrival country of Brazil, Czech Republic most European countries are represented with almost 60 entries from France and one Australian.

Scott Cavanough from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron has been in France since April qualifying for the Transat 650 he has even had some help this summer from Jessica Watson as she was the co-skipper for the Double handed 600nm Mini Fastnet Race back in June.

With time running out quickly, Scott is into the final preparations and training. With the boat having undergone a mini refit recently where everything was stripped, checked and reassembled, Scott is confident that he's as ready as he can be.

Last night was a training run down the coast with a fellow competitor in a nice north westerly with spinnakers up, checking auto pilot systems and settings before turning around and heading back to base at Douarnenez.

The yacht is now out of the water one last time for a final disassemble of the keel bearings and check before going back in the water next Tuesday. There will be two days of final training before heading a coupe of hundred miles down the French coast to La Rochelle.

The race rules require all yachts to be in La Rochelle 10 days before the start for safety checks and briefings of all 80 competitors and yachts.

For the race Scott's vessel normally known as 'Skippy' is going by the race name of ' www.brainchild.org.au '. Scott has been supporting this charity since the boat was launched in May last year. Scott's aim is to raise 10,000 dollars for Brainchild, an Australian charity helping children with brain and spinal tumours.

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