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Looks like our old amis Francis Joyon is ging to spice things up a bit on the North Atlantic. If weather predictions hold, he will set out today from New York on his solo transatlantic record attempt. Here’s how his router Jean Yves Bernot sizes up the North Atlantic picture:

“It may be tomorrow, as a small low-pressure area is moving in. What is important now is to watch how it develops. Once we start, the conditions will be good, but Francis will nevertheless have to manage to cover the 100 miles or so separating him from the zone, where he will pick up the weather system. Lows are created around Cape Hatteras (North Carolina) and initially tend to be rather unpredictable, before they gradually settle down into a pattern. In theory, the wind conditions should be good – 25 to 30 knots, hardly any stronger – and in any case, we shall be setting out, if we see that the journey is possible within less than 7 days *. With winds of this strength and a decent angle of 110° to 130° from the real wind, we can easily keep up an average of 20 knots without too much effort, but of course, we can’t expect perfect conditions throughout the whole trip. The main risk on this route is to see the flow drop off towards the finish, to the extent that we’ll be getting home in pre-summer conditions. Having said that, a lot of records have been broken in late June or early July. If tomorrow’s opportunity is confirmed, the start will take place around 6 p.m. GMT. If not, there will be other occasions later in the week or early next week.”

Here are the relevant facts and figures:
Route from New York – The Lizard (theoretical distance calculated by the WSSRC): 2925 miles (5417 km)
Single-handed record: Laurent Bourgnon, Primagaz, 7 days 2 hours 34 minutes 42 seconds (June 1994)
24-hour single-handed record: Laurent Bourgnon, Primagaz, 540 miles (June 1994)

Can’t believe this record has stood for so long. I wonder if Joyon will finally break it, only to have Ellen come along later this summer and steal his glory again…

Fabulous Francis: “Alors, I’m not getting any prettier hanging around here in New York. Time to run those pantywaists in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge down…”
(Photo: Billy Black/DPPI)

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…”

Testosterone + high powered combustion engines = this. I think I’ll stick to a bicycle…

“Umm, can I get you guys anything…?”

It’s hard to believe. But boats sometime, err, sink. Case in point, the recent J24 Nationals. Here’s what happened:

“On the last day of the 2005 J/24 U.S. National Championship regatta (Sunday, May 22), a 37-knot puff tossed the boats around like toothpicks. About six boats were knocked on their sides by the gust, two fully capsized, and one of those two, the Magic Hat of Snohomish, WA, turned all the way over and sank. None of the crew of the Magic Hat were injured, and rescue boats were on the scene before Magic Hat went down.”

And here are the pics snagged by Scott Wirs, of Rhumbline Photography…

“I read somewhere that sailing on your side reduces drag…”

“Hey, guys! Hiking this far out of the boat is definitely illegal…”

“Heh-heh. If I can just snag that life ring, I’ll be able to hold quite a profitable little auction right here in the water…”

Yessirree, it’s hard work sailing in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge. Sailing World has placed crack writer (and TWC friend) Tony Bessinger aboard the good yacht Sariyah. And he’s got all he can handle: running the furling joysticks, choosing which fresh-baked cookies to eat, and rearranging the closet in his suite. Here’s a taste of the cushy life:

“Writing my report in the pilothouse can mean an interruption or two; as I was writing Monday’s report I was asked by our captain, Tim Laughridge, to help change headsails. Luckily, it didn’t involve getting into my foulies and heading for the bow. Instead I was operating joysticks. As I watched for signals to start or stop furling, I rolled in the yankee by pushing its joystick forward as our engineer, Dale (Crusty) Tremain, slackened its sheet. Kevin Burnham watched up forward and signaled me when the sail was all the way furled, which was hard for me to see from my vantage point. Then we reversed the process with our genoa. And neither I, nor the crew on deck were doused with waves as we “changed headsails.”

I have to say that racing Sariyah across the Atlantic isn’t what I’m used to as far as ocean racing is concerned. I sleep in a cabin that has a large closet, plenty of stowage room for my gear, a head with a shower, and air conditioning. Meals are served to us by our chef Salisha Ali and our stewardess Alex Henderson, both of whom contribute mightily to our comfort between meals by appearing with hot cups of tea or coffee and freshly baked cookies.”

Remember. He’s getting paid for this. Bastard…

So-Fine Sariyah: “Hey, Bessinger! Do you mind getting out of the Jacuzzi for a minute? I need someone to hold my cookie while I operate this joystick…”

Now here’s a real race, with lots of weather, breaking boats and full-on surfing. Check out the latest report to see what those crazy Open 60 sailors are up to. Here’s just a taste:

“At the 1400 GMT ranking today the leaders of the IMOCA fleet in the Calais Round Britain Race were already level with Dingle in the SW of Ireland after a ‘wet and wild’ night trucking across the Celtic Sea on a broad reach with gusts peaking at 46 knots and cold, boat-breaking seas. Conditions are taking their toll on both the crews and their boats, Caen La Mer forced to retire at 0435 GMT this Tuesday morning after dangerous conditions in the Channel without power, working ballast tanks or the ability to cant their keel. Around four hours later Bernard Stamm on Cheminees Poujoulat became the third skipper to retire from the race after breaking his sole daggerboard in a collision with a UFO (unidentified floating object) off the Scilly Isles at around midnight last night.”

While the Transatlantic Challenge weenies are mixing cocktails and choosing which ascot to wear to dinner, these guys are sailing their asses off and still have time to take photos, phone in updates, and let all us deskbound losers know just what the hell is going on out there…

“Plus, I’m reading Sartre between weather file downloads…”

Finally, some breeze. Maybe too much. Or at least too much, too fast. At least for Mari Cha IV. Here’s the report:

“Big change today – we have been battling all morning in a rough sea and 45 to 50 Kts of wind from the south.
The wind was forcast to come in from the south first at 20kts which is very manageable, but actually came quickly up to 35… 40… 45… 50 knots.

Fortunately, we had thought that the wind could be stronger than planned and were cautious but quickly took 2 reefs in the Mizzen, then 2 in the main and a third in the mizzen Jib. We also went from mast head blade to Number 4 to strom jib and finally the Mizzen came down competely as the boat was getting difficult to control planing constantly up to 35 kts.

Of course, that is when the bottom rudder bearing started to leak heavily – the pressure during the broach had poped out a lip seal. Damien and Vincent emptied the transom of 4 tonnes of water and repaired the leak. We still have a bit of home keeping to do but are back on track at pace in 40 kts of wind.

Wet morning!”

Must have been interesting broaching a 140-footer at high speed. And it’s probably getting exciting over on ‘ol Maximus, too. So let’s go over…Umm, what? There are no reports on the Maximus site? You’re kidding. No, you’re not. Lame. Lame. Lame. MC IV is just ahead on the ocean, but miles ahead in cyberspace. C’mon you Kiwi sheep shaggers, how about a frickin’ update?!…

“Shh! Don’t ask me to trim again. I’m working on a poetic close to my next on-the-scene e-mail…”

The Rolex Transatlantic Challenge got underway a day late yesterday, in 3-5 knots of wind. Painful. Mari Cha and Maximus are neck and neck, holding out hope that this thing could turn into a very interesting match race. Here’s helmsman Mike Sanderson, from MC IV:

“The race started on time at 14:10 local time on what was unfortunatly shaping up to be a very light airs start. Sure enough by the time the gun went we had a whopping, 3.5 knots of wind, so that was a little slow going. We set up on the leward end of the line, with Maximus and Carrera to windward of us – this gave us plenty of room to take speed or height depending on where we thought the next puff was coming from.

Since the start gun was fired, we have pretty much had every angle in this wind strength, to say that it has been shifty and puffy would be an understatement.

Anyway….. for now it is wriggle wriggle, just to make sure that we squeeze every last drop of speed out of the good ship, Mari Cha IV.”

You can follow (sort of) along with the abysmal fleet tracker. See if you can make more sense of it than I can…

Light Air Start: “Damn, we should have started in that 50-knot snotbuster. Our ETA in this stuff is January 2006…”

Thursday Night Racing In Annapolis, Pre-Start…
(Photo: Mike “Maybe I’ll Buy Another Boat” Faber)

Okay, it’s actually only dinging it up a bit. But our old friend, Iceberg B-15A is on the march again. B-15A is the world’s largest floating object, and TWC readers who don’t suffer from Alzheimer’s or drug addictions will remember that the massive ice chunk already took out the Drygalski Ice Tongue.

Here’s the latest satellite image, as the monster moves in on another ice tongue (why does every piece of ice down there look like a tongue to the eggheads? Fetish, much? I can only imagine what Austin Powers would be calling these things).

Here’s the color(less) commentary from the European Space Agency:

This satellite image taken May 16, 2005 shows the bottle-shaped B-15A iceberg adjacent to the landfast Aviator Glacier ice tongue, toward the top of the image. The Drygalski ice tongue, near the bottom, was struck a glancing blow by the drifting B-15A a month ago. Pieces of Drygalski broken off by the blow can be seen drifting through the sea on either side of B-15A. Credit: ESA/ Envisat

B-15 Bomber: “Be afraid, Aviator, be very afraid! See the shards of Drygalski whimper in my wake, and cower before my massive, massive, mass…!”