Category: bermuda

Bermuda Race start 3 days away

The Bermuda Race is only 600 miles, 4 days should be an ample window for me on a 50 foot boat. Somehow there are always so many loose ends to tie up before the start. The weather at the moment looks like a nice close reach start, running out of wind at the Gulf  Stream.
   I chose to pre clear customs, which may mean I am, if someone chose to look at paperwork, in Bermuda right now. It took awhile as I was not the only one with that idea. All of Belle Mente’s crew were in front of me, including Tom Mclaughlin.
  Once accomplished, I wanted to stop at Team One for last minute errands, I stopped by the Sparkman & Stephens office, which is now home to two of the designers. On the way I noticed an aircraft carrier under the Newport Bridge. I did a double take at that. It seems the Forrestal is being moved south and will become a museum in another port.
   I am still hoping to hear from former 12 meter sailors who would be willing to share photos and stories of  their experiences.
  
    

500 mb and the Gulf Stream

Today was the last day of class with Lee Chesneau, we discussed the 500 mb charts in weather. We had a guest speaker, Frank Bohlen who has spent most of his life studying the Gulf Stream. It is such a large feature and contains so much energy, it has a very real impact on weather.

  We only scratched the surface on these subjects, but it points us in the right direction to learn more

I have been stopping each time I return to newport crossing the bridge to check on the progress of the Ospreys that are nesting near the marsh. splendid creatures. I cannot wait to see the offspring.

WHAT IS BIG?

I had trouble fitting “Mirabella V” in the frame. That is” Leopard of London” which is 100 feet long on the outside of “Mirabella” The dark mast through the rigging of “Mirabella” is “Speedboat” also 100 feet long. Both of the 100 foot boat have power assisted winches and canting keels, which means that the engine must be running pretty much all the time in order to sail the boat. They sail with 18-25 people as they are all needed to make sail changes or any other big changes, like a jibe.
   Both “Speedboat” and “Leopard” are in Newport waiting for a weather window to make an attempt on the monohull transatlantic record. Because they have power assisted winches they can never own the outright record held by “Maria Cha” set in 2003
   “Speedboat” is also entered in the Bermuda Race starting June 18th, where I am certain they would like to set a course record as well.
    “Mirabella V” is, I believe ,still the largest sloop in the world. Despite to fact that everything is done by a computer and power, I have trouble conceiving of managing anything aboard her. Just the sheer size of the gear and the loads generated are mind boggling. The photo of people standing next to the headstay turnbuckle should be proof enough. This photo is courtesy of Bill Coleman.
   I am thrilled to see these boats and glad of their existence I am anxious to get back to the thread of the 12 meters and the America’s Cup.

196 Entries for the 2010 Bermuda Race

196 entries is a healthy number any time, for a race like the Bermuda Race. 635 nm in distance at a magnetic course of 162  degrees. The start is June 18th, therefore the weather will be what the weather will be.  Add to that the Gulf Stream as a race course feature. It is not always possible to take full advantage of both.  The Gulf Stream is like a barrier or fence in the Ocean that you have to climb over to get where you are going.
  Kitchen Shoals is your landfall/turning mark, before finishing off St. David’s light

Safety at Sea

St. Partick’s day weekend in Newport. The Safety At Sea Seminar also took place. The weather outside was some of the worst we have experienced in some time;sixty knots of wind and over 5 inches of rain.

Personally the trellis I built blew over and broke in several places. It had with stood many storms and I had developed a false sense of security about it sturdiness. Nothing that can’t be repaired.

I am now certified for the next five years as far as US sailing is concerned. On sunday I was certified in CPR and First Aid.
There was some new gear exhibited. Of note was the clothing made by Ursuit.
Overall this was the best organized and best presented Safety at Sea Seminar I have ever attended.
Finally Peter Becker and Stan Schreyer were also being certified before they take off in IMOCA 60’s to set a record between New York and Barcelona.