video of the 2010 Bermuda Race

It is not news to most of you who sail, that a few minutes after the start of the race, the clew of our mainsail tore. We reefed and sewed for about 40 hours. (the race lasted for 78 hours) We finished second in our class.

Bermuda Race 2010

The story of the torn mainsail will remain the focal point of the 2010 Bermuda Race for our crew, however the race had many other stories. We never had more than 30 knots of wind, about what the rest of the fleet experienced. We were all stacked to windward when off watch, just like everyone else as well.

   We had visits from marine life, the highlight was a large turtle. At first we thought his head was caught in a tire, then his head popped up behind the tire. He was pushing this tire along with his head, by bumping into it. Perhaps his contribution to clean oceans.

SEVEN MINUTES

I am back home this evening from Bermuda. I sailed the Bermuda Race aboard Larry Huntington's "Snow Lion". The boat was well prepared, we had a new North 3Di mainsail. We had sailed together in the Block Island race and the NYYC Spring Regatta.
   Seven minutes into the race the clew of the new mainsail failed. There was a collective groan, we all knew what this represented for Larry. My first thought was: "I know Larry will not withdraw", followed by: "I might not make my flight home.."We watched our class sail away from us, while we accessed the problem and developed a solution. We reefed and started stitching. Once we felt the clew was stabilized enough we unreefed and continued to stitch. About a total of forty hours of sewing.

 We could not sail at 100%. We nursed this sail right to the finish. We managed a second in class and 14th overall, but in my mind the race will always be remembered by the crew for something else. Everyone contributed to the solution, everyone picked up where the last person left off. We behaved as a team with a single purpose. The result was a sense of satisfaction that cannot be measured by results. No one ever quit, they just kept trying harder.

The last supper

Ok, it's race day, game on. If we have prepared well, we are ready. The gulf stream and weather are going to make this race more challenging than I remember in the past. There are so many "If" moments. If we can get to this point before the wind sifts, If we can stay in favorable current.

We hosted a crew dinner last night. This is a group with whom I have sailed with starting in 1969. Jack Cummiskey and I have sailed 3 transatlantics together, 5 Bermuda races, 2 Fastnets. Jack's only problem is that he is way to smart. Great shipmate and friend.
  Click here to see a video of what others think of the race, courtesy of scuttlebutt.

See you in a few days.

Am I Ready?

The start is in the vicinity of Castle Hill Light. I have been puzzled that the starting line is in the channel. We are not alone in this body of water. What are ships to do? The location makes it very easy for people to watch from shore.

                                                                                        

These are photos from the 1970 start. A navy destroyer was the committee boat and Brenton Reef Tower was the pin. If you were not aboard the Navy ship or had your own boat you would not see the start.

One would think I am leaving for more than four days the way I am fussing about here. Making sure everything is in order.

I am going to listen to Peter Isler speak about using Expedition, the navigation program, this evening.

IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR THE BERMUDA RACE 2010

  If you are sailing the Bermuda Race, you need to click HERE. The procedure for entry into Bermuda has changed.


On another note, sad news, John Bonds, died today. A fixture at the Safety at Sea Seminars. I watched and listened to him in March. He was full of life.

Safety at Sea

St. Partick's day weekend in Newport. The Safety At Sea Seminar also took place. The weather outside was some of the worst we have experienced in some time;sixty knots of wind and over 5 inches of rain.

Personally the trellis I built blew over and broke in several places. It had with stood many storms and I had developed a false sense of security about it sturdiness. Nothing that can't be repaired.

I am now certified for the next five years as far as US sailing is concerned. On sunday I was certified in CPR and First Aid.

There was some new gear exhibited. Of note was the clothing made by Ursuit.

Overall this was the best organized and best presented Safety at Sea Seminar I have ever attended.

Finally Peter Becker and Stan Schreyer were also being certified before they take off in IMOCA 60's to set a record between New York and Barcelona.