2014 Guadalupe Island Race

[Ragnar]

The Guadalupe Island Race starts this Friday at 11:00 am. Follow the fun here.

[Mewes]

How did you build that map?

[pogen]

How did you build that map?

looks like they are using the Kattack service.

[Mark K]

Yes. We are using the Kattack service with SPOT trackers as the feed source. The SPOT connectivity has been ok, but some of the units have been intermittent and one of the units does not appear to be connecting. The units are supposed to upload every 10 minutes. Some of the updates have been more on the order of hours... possibly due to the units having poor visibility to the sky. They do work best when outside the cabin. Slacker used his SPOT tracker returning from the last SHTP and it proved to be pretty reliable the entire way.

We also have twice daily position reports (6am and 6pm) via satphone. I'll be posting those positions on the PSSA website (pssala.com). One of the competitors, C's Folly, reported ill with the flu earlier this morning and has turned around and headed home. The remaining 8 boats are working their way down to Guadalupe Island.

[brianb]

Anyone watching this race as it unfolds ? Whitall on Slacker (2012 SHTP Class Winner) has been dominating. Today it appears he has a problem (a guess) as he seems to have gone into the lee of Guadalupe and reached into the cove. Anyone know any information ?
Brian

[WBChristie]

Anyone watching this race as it unfolds ? Whitall on Slacker (2012 SHTP Class Winner) has been dominating. Today it appears he has a problem (a guess) as he seems to have gone into the lee of Guadalupe and reached into the cove. Anyone know any information ?
Brian

I've been watching this...maybe he is just trying to avoid the forecast 30k headwinds for the next few hours. Get some rest then come out strong

[brianb]

Maybe so. If you blow up the plot of his position he seems to be going in circles, but that could be him wandering on an anchorage. Yesterday there were 50 kt winds in the La Paz area.

Location plot at : http://kws.kattack.com/GEPlayer/GMPo...px?FeedID=1215

[Mark K]

Our shore support been in satphone contact with all the competitors today. The winds all day have been 30 kts gusting to 35+. No major problems reported. The mini Libra broke her spinnaker pole earlier today and is planning repairs once in the lee of the island. Whitall on Slacker pulled into an anchorage to rest a bit and wait out the winds. A couple of other competitors (Felicita and Voice of Reason) are waiting out the winds on the south/leeward side of Guadalupe. Forecasts show the winds easing a bit tomorrow.

Mark

[brianb]

Thanks Mark for the update.

Brian

[Mark K]

FYI... Whitall is posting on his blog daily here