Day 9 - Stuck on Starboard
by Race Committee, July 9th, 2018
The trade wind run under spinnaker to Hawaii beckons, but more changeable winds are still in the way of the Vic-Maui fleet. The boats are stuck in a form of purgatory close reaching in wind speeds are fluctuating from non-existent to 12 kts – not exactly prime conditions for an ocean race. And the boats are soooo tired of seeing the white sails hoisted on a perpetual starboard tack and are getting frustrated by the time it is taking to make southing to the trade wind latitudes. And they are getting nervous as everyone has now figured out that the boat that finds the right path to the trades will likely win the race.
And they are now clearly in the North Pacific Gyre (aka the Garbage Patch) with Joy Ride quite surprised by the amount of plastic garbage floating by. With Salient also report seeing lots of whales, you have to wonder how our leviathan friends are faring in a sea of fish nets, plastic cups and other urban detritus.
At Roll Call Firefly is 901 miles to the finish. Joy Ride +22, Salient +84, Turnagain +115, Kraken +137, Anjo +190, Oxomoxo + 224, Serenite +278
In Racing 1 Firefly has increased its lead over Joy Ride by 5 miles over yesterday’s report. But the last 24 hours has been a game of snakes and ladders as one boat, then the other, loses wind pressure and finds it again. This will likely be a dog-fight right to the finish.
In Racing 2, Breaking News ..... at 1515 HST Salient just raised their reaching kite - a change is as good as a rest. But at Roll Call Salient had also increased its lead by over Turnagain by 18 miles and by 14 miles over Kraken since yesterday. But all boats have lost distance over Anjo who is coming up from behind. But this has also been a game of snakes and ladders and as the first 4 boats have very similar time allowances, the battle for first to Hawaii is also a battle for first place, corrected time. And don’t forget Oxomoxo who the other boats owe roughly 17 hours on corrections. Serenite, in a battle to keep up with the Racing 2 boats, lost a little distance overnight and has dived east to try something different.
The crew on Gemini's Dream, still disappointed that boat issues have stopped their adventure to Hawaii are making good progress and now about 350 miles from home motor-sailing under jib and trysail.
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Featured Yacht Profile
Amun-Ra (2022)
Type: Beneteau Oceanis 45Skipper: Ben Homsy
Port: Vancouver, BC Canada
Blog: 1 articles posted
Ben Homsy; Owner / Skipper - Ben is ultimately responsible for bringing together this motley crew. Australian-born, UK and Canadian citizen with an impeccable taste in both teak decking and lasagna. Ben has skippered charter boats over the past 20 years. As a recent entrant into the Pacific North West sailing circuit, this will be Ben's first year participating in the Vic-Maui and other local inshore racing.
Rob Bergman; Watch Captain / 2nd In Charge - Rob is a fellow Australian who recently moved to Vancouver with his family. An avid sailor and nature-lover who grew up around sailboats. This will be Rob's first Vic- Maui and major ocean crossing, after participating in the 2021 Cascadian Convoy and the 2022 Southern Straits on SV Amun-Ra.
Brenden O'Reilly; Trimmer / Fishing - Brenden joins the crew of Amun-Ra with a sound knowledge of boats powered by noisy engines - but we have decided not to hold this against him as apparently he is a master fisherman. This is Brenden's first season sailing and racing in the Pacific North West.
Olivier Corbeil; Trimmer / Bowman - Despite being the youngest crew member (and the only one who can touch his toes), Olivier has over 3000 nautical miles sailing offshore and has raced international level dinghies for 10 years. Olivier has been navigator on a number of boats and crew on a J/22 during the J/22 Worlds in 2016.
Donald Scott; Trimmer / Engineer - Don has literally thousands of miles of cruising. His racing experience includes the Van Isle 360, Southern Straits, Swiftsure, SOAR, Anvil Island, Round Bowen, and Bird Island (Australia). He is also very handy with white electrical tape.
David Verlee; Trimmer - Hailing from Bowen Island, David joins the team at Amun-Ra with extensive sailing experience. He is a 25-year member of RVYC, having raced in the club's Wednesday nights on Virago.
