Round Palagruza Cannonball 2023 is a very serious regatta - in theory at least.
An elite crew of club members took the start line amongst 23 boats for a 400-mile, 4-day non-stop loop. Round the Italian coast, past Dubrovnik, then grinding back up to Trogir.
On prep day, whilst other crews were stripping beds and benches out of their boats (and cutting toothbrushes), we were loading beer crates and testing disco lights. A clearcut, innovative strategy that wasn't meant to win.
Onboard, we ran a strict, almost elegant schedule newly dubbed "the Albatross 8-8-8":
8 hours racing. 8 hours partying. 8 hours sleeping.
Relentless.
The boat never stopped moving. The crew never fully sobered. And yet, mile after mile, we stayed in the fight. Loud, inefficient on paper, visibly unserious — but fast.
Four days later, we crossed the line 2nd overall, out of 23 boats !!!
At that moment, RPC gained a new reference point : the Party Boat.
No luck of course. Just utter seamanship.
Thank you RPC organisers, it was a hell of a time !
Official scoreboard : https://roundpalagruza.at/class-more-55-wertung/