 |
 |
 |
 |
Marco Nannini - Ocean Racing
Georges banks, what a wild ride
I have now passed my waypoint on Georges banks and I'm heading for
Nomans Land island then the finish.
As things go in racing, the first waypoint i set was clear of any
shallow waters, then as Tamarind and Jager kept breathing on my neck I
chose another one much further in, skirting two banks near the Old South
Shoal, clear of a name with the suggestive name "Great Rip"...
Approaching the banks the seastate was extremely confused as at that
stage it was wind against tide, the waves that form, similar to those
found for example near the Needles or many other headlands like Portland
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 2 reads
Slowly but on course
So, here i am chugging along real slow, I started stiching the heavy
spinnaker, but the tears are so extensive, probably 15m to put together
that i am not sure how long it could take me an whether it would hold at
all... meanwhile the wind backed a little, so that even though at
reduced speed under poled out A1 assymetric i can lay there i want to
go... if it keeps backing then i'll be fine under assymetric. I have 140
miles to go and 24 hours to make it in 22 days.
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 2 reads
No wind and no spini make Jack a dull boy
No wind and no spini make Jack a dull boy No wind and no spini make Jack
a dull boy No wind and no spini make Jack a dull boy No wind and no
spini make Jack a dull boy No wind and no spini make Jack a dull boy No
wind and no spini make Jack a dull boy No wind and no spini make Jack a
dull boy No wind and no spini make Jack a dull boy No wind and no spini
make Jack a dull boy No wind and no spini make Jack a dull boy No wind
and no spini make Jack a dull boy
I'm flying the assymeytric with the tack poled out in an intricate
tangle of ropes to be able to go deeper than the 110 degrees
Please keep veering, just this once
Without a spinnaker and just an assymetric on board i found myself
sailing higher than the rest of the fleet, pushing me uwillingly north
of the rhumb line and in a tricky position to steer for Nantucket
shoals, it's dead downwind for the whole of us. So far the speed has
been better sailing higher hence i have not lost anything to FanFan and
Tamarind, just, i'm in a different place now. But, there is a glimmer of
hope, the wind has veered and i can just, just hold a meaningful course
on the other tack... i.e.
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 6 reads
It really is that close
As the fog lifted i realised FanFan is just behind me, to my starboard,
less than half a mile away... FanFan and i already met mid atlantic
about 10-12 days ago, then went separate ways only to meet again on our
way into Newport. FanFan is in the class above mine, so i'm glad i kept
him behind for so long...
very little air, travelling at 4kt top speed.
Lat:41.30N
Lon:66.35W
- Add new comment
- 5 reads
Unstoppable Tamarind could win OSTAR again
Well, i thought pretty much everyone was stuck in the muck overnight,
not so. Tamarind is now only 28 miles behind me compared to 75 yesterday
at 0400 UT. Well, hats off to Mervyn for being such an amazing light
wind sailor on a formosa 42 which weighs 13 tonnes and carries no
spinnakers, sailing faster than everyone else around him. This just goes
to show that he didnt win OSTAR 2005 on corrected time by chance. I
think with a bit of luck he could win this race again, or at worst be
second behind Elmarleen...
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 4 reads
Jaws
Eventful morning, i finally reached the continental shelf and the depth
sounder came bace to life, that has gotta be a good sign, there is a
little air since about 0900 UT but the progress is real slow, travelling
at about 4kt.
With shallow waters my radar alarm has gone bezerk, pinging several
ships, which obviously i cannot see as it is foggy. At some point i got
a target on radar which was just half a mile behind me and moving just
as slow as me, so i thought it could be FanFan after catching up with me
overnight...
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 4 reads
You get the idea
sat motionless all night, drifted with the current, gone backwards 3
miles. At 0400 Tamarind had taken another 20 miles just like that, as of
course, he kept the wind, situation will be worse now, i'm sure... this
is not sailing, this is wind roulette.
The grib gives me 15kt easterlies where i am now. The forecast is out by
about 15kt.
Lat:41.32N
Lon:65.44W
- Add new comment
- 4 reads
no wind, drifting along
i guess i just have to get used to it. suddenly the remaining miles seem
like an impossible distance.
Lat:41.47N
Lon:65.30W
- Add new comment
- 5 reads
- 606 reads
- Italiano
