Category: gulf stream

1972 BERMUDA & TRANSATLANTIC RACES

In 1972 I was Sailing on “Charisma” a 56 foot S&S. A wonderful powerful boat. A Hurricane (Agnes) crossed the course to Bermuda. We had 70 knots over the deck at the finish.

The Transatlantic race to Spain started in Bermuda and was in stark contrast as the course crossed two high pressure zones. The boat that won sailed the isobars. I had argued the point to no avail aboard “Charisma” as it meant sailing at right angles to the course. Less than 24 hours after finishing we set out for Sardinia; for what would be the first Mediterranean Championship; winning every race with Bill Ficker steering.

SAILING THROUGH LIFE

This is in response to those who asked:”Who are you?” It is a least a dimension.Boats have always been a part of my life. Naturally interwoven with the story of Newport.

THE 2014 BERMUDA RACE STARTS TODAY

CLICK : HERE to track the boats in the race.

I have not written about sailing much recently. That does not mean I have not been watching. The Bermuda Race starts today from Castle Hill Light in Newport RI.

Based on the presentation for skippers, the rhumb line is the course to sail. I am certain there will be some who will search for the favorable eddy; it is a free ride after all.

Snow Lion is chartered to the Hubbards, they won the race a few years ago in their own boat. I had the pleasure of racing across the atlantic in 2005 on the same watch with them.( we won that as well)

This is a navigator’s race and the Gulf Stream is an obvious obstacle; however it must be considered in conjunction with the weather.

Safe sailing to everyone

 

GULF STREAM
GULF STREAM

WEATHER AT SEA

TRANSATLANTIC 1975
TRANSATLANTIC 1975

TRANSATLANTIC 2003
TRANSATLANTIC 2003

TRANSATLANTIC 2011
TRANSATLANTIC 2011

TRANSATLANTIC 2005
TRANSATLANTIC 2005

FASTNET RACE 2003 FASTNET ON THE BOW
FASTNET RACE 2003 FASTNET ON THE BOW

1973 FASTNET, ROCK ON THE BOW
1973 FASTNET, ROCK ON THE BOW

1973 RUNNING IN THE SOLENT
1973 RUNNING IN THE SOLENT

REACHING IN THE SOLENT 1969
REACHING IN THE SOLENT 1969

TRANSATLANTIC 1968
TRANSATLANTIC 1968

BERMUDA RACE 1966
BERMUDA RACE 1966

BLOCK ISLAND RACE 2009
BLOCK ISLAND RACE 2009

1966 BERMUDA RACE

The 1966 Bermuda Race was my first. The boat(“Gunievere” belonging to George Moffett, designed by Alan Guerney) on which I sailed is shown very briefly tied to the dock at Port O’ Call (now Bannister’s Wharf). We were never out of sight of our nearest competitor: Thor Ramsing’s “Solution”; finishing within a minute of one another.
I was working for John Nicholas Brown on his boat in Newport. He had given me the time off to do the race. I always considered that it was very generous of him because he did not use his own boat while I was away. I sailed another Bermuda race with “Guinevere” and a Transatlantic Race.

GULF STREAM

The Bermuda Race is the big sailing event, particularly on the East Coast. Yes the America’s Cup is coming to Newport after the race leaves.

The Bermuda race is traditionally broken into three parts, the race to the north wall of the Gulf Stream, the Stream, and the race from the Stream to Kitchen Shoals. Really the Gulf Stream is the obstacle on the race course. I have only sailed 12 races, (my first in 1966) but I have still managed to see many unusual events.

Click HERE to see an animated view of the stream so far this year. It is what has already happened so it will not be much help for what will occur in June, but shows just how much change can happen.

 

Expedition Seminar

Last evening, I along with approximately 30 other fellow sailors listened to Peter Isler speak about the routing program Expedition. Developed by Nick White from New Zealand; it is a very powerful easy to use program.
   This event was held at IYRS (International Yacht Restoration School) and organized by Custom Offshore  Jonathan and Jeffrey Udell.
  I found it outstanding as Peter explained how he customized the program for his logic, his use.(Peter will be navigating “Ttian” in the Bermuda Race. Looking at his projections, he expects to be at the north wall of the Gulf Stream just as the wind dies (about 18 hours into the race)
  Given that this year there is a meander that flows along the rhumb line straight to Bermuda; we will all be trying to enter this at about the same place. It could get crowded.
 see you on the starting line tomorrow.

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