Category: snow lion

TUNING

Many of the Bermuda Race crew drove from New York for our first day of sailing on saturday. The boat hit the water on Friday, we did some speed runs to adjust the instruments, and look at a new North 3Di mainsail delivered by Jack Orr.
     It was even more fun as “Flash Glove” and “Aera” were also out sailing. Flat water and wind from 5 to 17 knots made it a perfect day. Even the rain held off.
   Mission accomplished and everyone is back home for Mother’s Day.

DAN CIANCI

Dan Cianci was lost overboard off the coast of New Jersey in November 2004. “Snow Lion” had been donated to the Naval Academy. A crew came to Greenwich, Ct. to pick up the boat and take it to Annapolis. In the early morning hours off New Jersey, Dan went overboard and they were not able to get back to him.

Just writing the story tightens my chest. Dan had been on my watch for the 2003 trans-atlantic race, the fastnet race, 2004 Bermuda race, and all the shorter races in between. We had earned each others trust and friendship.


HITTING WHALES



The Volvo boats are racing from Boston to Galway, Ireland. Ericsson 3 hit a whale. I have raced across the Atlantic 7 times never at the speeds of these boats. I have hit whales twice in those crossings.

In 1971 we had been sailing in thick fog for several days, I will remind you that navigation then was a sun sight, star sight and /or dead reckoning. As we had not seen anything for a while, we were relying on dr which put us more or less 20 miles south of Sable Island. There is a current which sets you north towards the island. It is a graveyard of ships. There are more than 100 wrecks there.
I was in my bunk when we hit the whale. We were running under spinnaker and it was night. I was panicked that we were going aground on the island. We hit him twice, once with the forefoot of the boat and a second time with the keel. Scrambling up the companionway just in time to see the whale pop up astern, losing him in the fog very quickly.
The next encounter was in 2005 aboard “Tempest” the 80 foot S&S design. At dusk this time. I was steering under spinnaker at about 15 knots. Suddenly, it was as if we had hit a sandbar. I hardly had time to look over my shoulder to see him, as conditions were a little squirrelly.
Finally I had a near miss in the 2004 Bermuda race. It was early morning. We were sailing into a hot rising sun. Jack, who was trimming the spinnaker said oh look there’s a whale. I had no idea where it was. When I did see it. I had to decide which end to go around. We were sailing at 10-11 knots with the spinnaker up. I chose to head up going around his head; as the shadow of the spinnaker passed over him it seemed to startle him and he lurched forward, I gasped, he dove straight down and it was over before anyone else noticed.

Fastnet 2003



This was my fifth Fastnet Race,(My first was in 1969) I have a fondness for this race; the challenges of the tide gates, the weather, the changes and obstacles.The fireworks the night before, the charm and bustle of Cowes, contribute to this feeling.

We actually led out of the Solent, past Hurst castle, only to anchor at Portland Bill for dinner. The photo of us passing Fastnet Rock continues to be one of my favorite memories. I am at the helm, Dan Cianci on the rail,furthest forward, was lost at sea a year later, only adding to the significance of this photo.
The final photo shows us at Bishop Rock, we missed the tide by a minute or two, in a dying breeze, allowing the boats behind to sail up to us.( also showing just how far ahead we had been.)
We still finished 11th boat for boat, however not achieving silver.