Ocean/International

THE ULTIMATE TEST ON AN UNFORGIVING OCEAN
Around the world single-handed, nonstop and without assistance is widely regarded as the ultimate test of seamanship and courage. Enduring month upon month in his own company, Norbert will be forced to pit his nautical prowess against torrential storms, ice, fierce oceans, loneliness and frustration during a distance of about 34.000 nautical miles. ...

Randall Reeves Took A break in Halifax to replenish supplies, fix some things and visit family and friends before pushing off for the next leg,
which resumed on July 2nd. We catch up with Moli and Randall now:




Eight months following wind and sea succeeded by one month tethered ashore. Neither seems real; in both cases, time has flown. This morning, Mo tugs gently at her anchor. She is happy enough here, as am I, but she knows we must move on. Much has been accomplished but not yet the goal. The whole of the north lies between us and a return.

As is the case wherever Mo touches, here we have been the recipients of much kindness. Tony and Connie, Wayne, Rob, Sebastiaan and Rhiannon, Ben, Rich, John, Sandy and Hagen are just a few of those who have helped to ready us for the next leg.

In fact, Mo was ready yesterday, but her skipper was not. He chose to dally, futzing with this and that bit of stowage, and in the evening and after the rain ended, taking one last, long stroll to see the town and her fireworks.

The dingy will come aboard after this note. And then we will be on our way to St John’s, on our way to the rest of the story…



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Dutch, an aluminum expedition boat sailed by my friends Sebastiaan and Rhiannon, meets Mo at the breakwater, and together we turn towards the sea. Dutch and family are out for a few weeks of summer cruising. Like Mo, they are headed north.

The day is sunny. I am in shirtsleeves. The brisk wind off the land ...

July 3 Update: Transatlantic Race 2019 Features Match Races Throughout Fleet


NEWPORT, R.I. — With the Irish coast just 200 nautical miles away for race leader Wizard at 1500 UTC today, the front runners in the Transatlantic Race 2019 might seem to be on the home straight, but there remain many hurdles and potholes ahead before they cross the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line this weekend.



TRACKER


At present David and Peter Askew’s VO70 and Lee Seng Huang's 100-foot maxi SHK Scallywag (top photo) are attempting to find the best way to exit an area of high pressure just off Ireland’s west coast. Once free, the forecast warns of fickle headwinds for the final 160 nautical miles they must sail up the English Channel to Cowes.

Since late evening Monday the tracker has stopped functioning onboard SHK Scallywag. Positions are now being sent through manually from the maxi and at 1500 UTC this showed her having made major inroads into Wizard’s lead. On Monday morning SHK Scallywag had been trailing her rival by around 90 miles. At 1500 ...

http://yb.tl/tr2019

Wizard Update

Time 1020 UTC. 49 24N 022 01W Speed 19.2 knots Course 075 magnetic. True Wind Speed: 16 knots.

810nm to the finish and approaching the high pressure ridge. Wind speed is dropping,the sky is clearing and the barometer is rising. The sleigh ride is coming to an end and now its back to tactical sailing.

The trick is to get into the high enough to use the shape to get a nice lift on the exit, while keeping enough wind speed to keep moving. Sometimes it feels a bit like Icarus making sure we don't fly too close to the sun (read High).

We don't know where our closest competitor Scallywag is (and presumably neither do you, the reader). Their tracker has not worked since 2300utc last night. After about two hours I got worried for them and tried calling their sat phone: no answer! Shit! I then began composing an email to try to establish that they were OK. Luckily I got a call back from Miles (Navigator) on Scallywag who indicated they were fine. Phew! That nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach subsided. I've been involved in enough "dramas" at sea and did not need another one.

Luckily, the sailing instructions state that "If a transponder fails, the Organising Authority will attempt to establish a communication ...

Transatlantic Race 2019 Fleet in Too Much Wind or Not Enough




NEWPORT, R.I. – Life in the Transatlantic Race 2019 can be summed up by paraphrasing a familiar survival-of-the-fittest saying: sometimes you’re the keel, sometimes you’re the minnow.

This year’s race across The Pond has been so uncharacteristic that the 120 sailors ...

NEWPORT, R.I. — At 1600 hours ET, four and a half hours after the final start of the Transatlantic Race 2019, the fleet of 13 yachts was south of Martha’s Vineyard and was beating in 15 to 20 knots of south/southeasterly wind towards the first virtual mark south of Nantucket Shoals, led by the three largest boats, SHK Scallywag (Dovell 100), Wizard (Juan K VO70) and Aegir (Rogers 82).


...

Teams and significant players are in Lorient, France meeting to finalize plans for the revitalized Ocean Race,
the route, the stops, the teams, the boats and the players all soon to be revealed... We can tell you that a returning
USA team will have it's mitts on a very well publicized boat in which to compete...





The French Revolution
Meet the sailors hoping to bring some je ...

May 24, 2019

Day 231

Noon Position: 36 45N 60 57W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): NW 6 – 7

Wind(t/tws): SSW 20+

Sea(t/ft): SW 8 – 10

Sky: Low cumulus; frontal clouds

10ths Cloud Cover: 10

Bar(mb): 1014+, falling 2mb per 2 hours

Sail: Triple reefed #2, triple reefed main, reaching on port
...

The first and oldest single-handed transatlantic race, The Transat, will carve out a new path in 2020.

The first and oldest single-handed transatlantic race, The Transat, will carve out a new path in 2020, with the announcement that the city of Brest in northern Brittany will ...