One of the only pure race boats in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge has turned tail, courtesy of a shredded main. Here’s the report from Ken Read, professional sailor and (oops) onboard sailmaker:
“We have just retired from the Transatlantic Challenge. It all started yesterday morning. The reason you didn’t hear from me yesterday is because we had a little bit on. Forty knots hard on the wind in the gulf stream with the 3 knots of current running against the wind. Tough day at the office. But, all was fine. Boat was leaping off of waves with the storm jib and two reefs in the main in 35 knots was just fine. But when the wind picked up, the mainsail began flogging. We were in the process taking it down when the sail began to tear from the extreme punishment.
So why did this chain of events happen? Well, first of all the low pressure we were anticipating yesterday really became far deeper and more severe than any of our weather people anticipated. It was this mistake that really put us in the wrong place at the wrong time with a very dissapointed crew for sure.
So here we are limping home with a storm trysail up and our storm kite, heading for Newport. Not exactly what our team had in mind. But so it goes. The crew of Carrera will be back again for sure.”
Thanks, Ken. No go work on that refund paperwork.
Out front, Maximus and MCIV have yet to hit the sort of reaching and running conditions that will turn this yawn-fest into a drag race worth following. But miracle of miracles, there is an update from the keyboard averse crew on Maximus:
“After a really slow start in light headwinds, the first 2 days have been really patchy variable winds shifting right round the clock, we have seen between 2 and 15 knots for the first 24 hours.
Everything is going well and Mari-Cha has been within a couple of miles for about 36 hours. Web passed a fishing trawler on night 1 within 50 meters, pretty crazy for out at sea but plenty of them around on the first night. We’ve headed quite far south to find the favourable southerlies and came into the breeze at about 10am on the 24th. Started with 20-25 knots with full main and fractional kite and gradually dropped back to 3 reefs and staysail with gusts over 40 knots. Speeds are regularly in the 25 – 30 range with top speed recorded of 32.5 knots and plenty of 30s and 31s, crew han ging on, but good fun sailing.
On deck its like standing in front of a fire hydrant, all our clothes are soaked through with spray everywhere. The breeze has dropped back to 15 knots now and we are heading along at 13-14knots with 2 reefs and a no.3. Expecting 35 knots on the nose for a day tomorrow then hopefully back into some reaching. Everyone is well and getting some rest while the conditions allow.”
Thanks, man. Now don’t be a stranger. We’re actually interested in what’s going on onboard. Now, if only the race tracker would show positions based on equivalent time stamps…
Maxi Match Race: “Okay, guys. Our strategy is to stick them with our prodder, and then hang on all the way across the Atlantic…”
The Earthist Chronicles 