I don’t think I ever experienced a more accurate forecast for the race. All of the features arrived exactly at the predicted times. Even the “backdoor front” made an appearance. Speedboat set a new record for the course in the light and testing conditions.
Lots of new things to look at and check on “Snow Lion” before we leave for the transatlantic race in june. This was our first opportunity, the mast was stepped on friday and the boat loaded yesterday. A new mast track, two new spinnakers and the usual number of projects for any boat going into the water for the first time after a winter of refitting.
A nice 15 knot northerly, offered us flat water for our first outing. Brilliant sun made us feel like spring was really here.
Our start (Snow Lion) is on June 29. As you can see it will be an active day. Once again “Zaraffa” will be in our class. She was in our class in the 2003 transatlantic race. I have told the story before; the day of our best 24 hour run at 275 miles , Zaraffa sailed 475 miles. Needless to say she beat us.
Once again our class will prove a challenging one. The big boats start July 3rd and will almost certainly arrive ahead of us. As you might imagine, each class will have it’s own unique set of weather conditions.
Shortly after the start of the 2010 Bermuda Race aboard “Snow Lion” the clew of the mainsail pulled out. We reefed, and watched our class sail away over the horizon. My thought was, it was going to be a really long race and I might miss my flight home. ( we actually finished more quickly than in previous years.)
This is a photograph taken shortly after the event. Still in sight of Newport.
We went sailing today aboard “Snow Lion” larry Huntington’s 50′ Ker design. The biggest news is the replacement mainsail for the one that was torn at the start of the Bermuda Race. ( see June posts). The next big race for “Snow Lion” will be the transatlantic race leaving Newport in June, 2011
The big boats have finished the Middle Sea Race in 2 days and 6 hours. Tghe next finisher should be Alegre, but she is a ways back.
Weymouth Speed Week finished last friday, as always an interesting group of boats and people.
Continuing the thread of the America’s Cup. The prospect of solid wing sails is a given. Sailmaking as we know it is at a nexus. I do not believe that wing sails will be on ocean racing yachts any time soon. At least I believe that; but no different the changes to carbon as a common boatbuilding material, carbon rigging, it is here and will not go away.
What does this mean for the sailmaker and sail designer?
Saturday’s racing for us was outside, while the Classics sailed north of Gould Island. We had 8-12 knots from the WSW. windward-leeward courses. Occasionally exciting as we were on the same course with the much bigger, much faster boats, Above is an example, RAN is overtaking us going at least 15 knots, we are sailing 8.5 knots. Gauging crossings with boats that accelerate so quickly is almost impossible. Great sailing, the fleets leave no room for error.
Below our race committee, thanks for a great day on the water. Of course the dinner Saturday night under the tent at Harbour Court, is the social event of the weekend.
