2016 Newport Bermuda Race Recap
Greetings, Sailing Friends and Family!
Apologies for being delinquent in race reports, but here is a final wrap up.
As most of you already know, the weather forecasts were a little unsettling before the start. The pre-race advisory warned that the cut-off low pressure system facing us had potential for turning into a tropical storm. A wave of panic went through the fleet, with around 50 boats not starting in the end. We seriously contemplated withdrawing. We did start, re-evaluating the weather every 6 hours, with a go-no go decision for the next day. Every forecast improved; in the end, it was actually one of the most pleasant passages to Bermuda ever. We did have a period of winds in the 30’s, maxing out at 36K, with somewhat lumpy seas in theGulf Stream. We had full moon, Summer Solstice clear nights; sailed in the moonlight with spinnaker up, at one point a whale swimming alongside of us. Very magical!
I have to give lots of kudos to skipper/owner Zach Lee. This was his first race, and he prepared the already fast Yankee Girl meticulously. Then he sailed very hard, constantly trimming and hand staring to optimize speed. We were spurred on by Jonathan Green, on Jeroboam; at first he was dogging our heels, then we his. Knowing that he was in the neighborhood re-assured us that we were making good tactical decisions. And it kept us sailing hard.
Other boats of note: while most of the professional boats did not start, 100 foot super-maxi Comanche did and took line honors, finishing in 34 hours, 42 minute and 53 seconds, for an average speed of 18 knots. For you non-sailors, that is very fast! She was quite a site to see.
First to finish after Comanche was High Noon, a Trip 42, sailed by a team of 7 teenagers, with 3 adult coaches. They were part of the Young American Junior Big Boat Sailing Team (Young American Junior Big Boat Sailing team @youngamericanbigboat), volunteer and donation supported. These young men and women spent 4 years training and preparing for this event, and in the end beat some of the best sailors on at least the US East Coast. Support the future of ocean racing!
We were of course very pleased to find out that, in the end, we won our double-handed class as well as the overall first-place double-handed Philip S. Weld Moxie Trophy.
Until the next time-
Gust
BLUEBIRD SAILING ADVENTURES