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Thread: R2ak 2019

  1. #41
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    Jan 2010
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    Well, THAT was exciting. Here are the boats tucked away in the harbor, all crew up at the top of the gangplank waiting for the start bell to ring.

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    There is sunshine, spectator boats in the water waiting, and someone playing a bagpipe for additional Canadian glamour.

    I saw Jake the Genius just before the start and complimented him for another job well done. He was typically modest and said we all have to wait til September to see what the decision will be regarding The Race.

    Here is Nathalie an hour before the start, ebullient as always, at the bow and ready to ride

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    Shawn and his shore crew, Leah and his father, on his catamaran, no longer listing to one side nor sinking. As the promoters noted, there was some carnage

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    Shad in the hatch of Dark Horse, aka Team High Seas Drifter.

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    Two of his crew, Steve Hocking and daughter Amber

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  2. #42
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    Then Carl Berger and I compared notes. Carl and a friend motored up to Victoria from Port Townsend on Sockeye, his big, solid, beautiful stinkpot. I call it beautiful because it is Carl's and we are now friends because we were both photographing everybody over the past three days. That's all it takes up here. He gave me the code for the front gate, which is always a friend-making gesture.

    Carl told me to look for a guy named Dean ("thinner than me, not as good looking", according to Carl). Dean had finagled entrance to the deck of the big Vancouver ferry that had the potential to block the view of the start from the western shore side of the harbor.

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    "Look for a guy with an expensive camera", Carl said. So I did and there he was.

    "Hi! Are you dean?"

    "Why, yes I am."

    "Carl said you have access to the bow of the ferry. May I join you?" I asked.

    "Sure", said Dean. So now Dean and I were friends.

    He fished a business card out of his pocket. Tianda Harris, Sales and Business Development at V2V, the ferry between Vancouver and Victoria that 'Cruises the Coast in Style'.

    "I've gotten a ride on a boat, but here's the card of the woman in charge."

    He handed me the card and left.

    I walked over to the V2V and introduced myself to Tianda, who opened the gate and let me choose the perch from which I would video tape the start with my IPhone, video camera of choice for unprofessionals.

    While I was up there on the ferry I met Travis, the Chief Officer of the V2V, who was intrigued by the presence of so many little boats. "They're going WHERE?" Travis was incredulous, and immediately got on his phone to look at the weather forecast and other conditions. "Well, if they leave the harbor and turn left ... or if they turn right.... ". His crew left the cabin to see what was exciting Travis and they stayed to watch.

    And here, at last, is Katy on Razzle Dazzle. Wait'll you hear about Katy and her crew. Yes, I have video.

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    Last edited by Philpott; 06-07-2019 at 09:43 AM.

  3. #43
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    Sep 2007
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    There they go! Nathalie and crew on ENVOLEE first away, pedaling at 4 knots. Now, 90 minutes after the start, they are in the top 3. Light winds from astern (S at 3-5 knots) but favorable current will get the body of the R2AK into Haro Straits by mid-afternoon. Then it's decision time: Option 1: up Swanson Channel;, Option 2: up Plumper Sound; Option 3: Thru the shortcut at Johns Pass at Stuart Island and into Boundary Pass to the Straits of Georgia. All three choices have adherents, depending on boat speed and luck. So far the rowing team from Maine of BACKWARDS AF is leading, making a solid 5 knots. But here comes PEAR SHAPE trimaran, sailing at 8 knots.

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  4. #44
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    BACKWARDS AF led the charge as the vanguard passed 10 Mile Point and began to head north into Haro St. BACKWARDS is averaging 6 knots ..but will be stopping tonight. In 4th position is TEAM SHUT UP & DRIVE, the 4 pedalers on a 4.5 knot pace. How long can they keep that up? All night? Doesn't look like much wind ahead.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]4431[/ATTACH Here's BACKWARDS, Leigh and Dameon
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    Last edited by sleddog; 06-06-2019 at 02:07 PM.

  5. #45
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    4:25 PM Friday The R2AK starts over ta dum.

    Too bad for R2AK race leader PEAR SHAPED RACING at checkpoint Seymour Narrows ...they missed slack, and now must wait while the south bound flood tide builds to 12.5 knots. Likely ANGRY BEAVER and GIVIN' THE HORNS will catch up, and all 3 pass through Seymour Narrows this evening about 9 pm.
    Last edited by sleddog; 06-07-2019 at 05:10 PM.

  6. #46
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    Jan 2010
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    So the tracker might read 3.4 knots and that might represent knots going backwards!???

  7. #47
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    Hard to say what is exactly going on at the front of the R2AK fleet with the tracker acting up, and the two leaders unreported for many hours. What we do know: 3rd place tri GIVIN' THE HORNS is in Shearwater with a broken rudder.
    And in the biggest advance, TEAM SAIL LIKE A GIRL is now 3rd place as the leaders head out into Hecate Strait.

    Here's the forecast for the area north and west of Bella Bella for the 9 boats that have passed that check point:

    "Gale warning in effect. Wind southeast 30 to 40 knots diminishing to southwest 15 to 25 this evening and to southwest 5 to 15 late overnight."


    Not sure I'd want to be in a Melges 24, attempting to sleep in the trapezes! Hecate can be ugly, especially wind against tide. Current winds are 25+ from dead aft. Nathalie and crew should be good in this, but have a lot of ground to make up.

    I wouldn't be surprised if some of the leaders take the narrow but more protected Laredo Channel east of Aristazabal Island, and the Principe Channel east of Banks Island. The winds will be just as strong, but seas much reduced. And there are hidey holes if necessary to bail out.

    So which would you rather be on tonight racing for glory: a 34 foot foiling trimaran going 25 knots in the darkness, or a Shock 40 with a forward rudder and questionable canting keel. Yiii doggies, stay tuned.
    Last edited by sleddog; 06-09-2019 at 09:19 PM.

  8. #48
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    Sep 2008
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    Saratoga
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    What is the length of darkness at that latitude this time of year; four hours?

    The 11.48' waves at 8 seconds in the South Hecate Strait @ 17:00 this afternoon is not my idea of a good time.

  9. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by sleddog View Post
    Hard to say what is exactly going on at the front of the R2AK fleet with the tracker acting up, and the two leaders unreported for many hours. What we do know: 3rd place tri GIVIN' THE HORNS is in Shearwater with a broken rudder. And in the biggest advance, TEAM SAIL LIKE A GIRL is now 3rd place as the leaders head out into Hecate Strait. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the leaders take the narrow but more protected Laredo Channel east of Aristazabal Island, and the Principe Channel east of Banks Island. The winds will be just as strong, but seas much reduced. And there are hidey holes if necessary to bail out.
    As the sun drops low in the southwest on the R2AK racetrack, we've got drama right here in River City. GIVEN THE HORNS has demonstrated for lack of a spare 12 pound plywood rudder, you can't win the R2AK if you can't finish. And there's enough flotsam floating around to derudder everybody in the top 5 tonight in the dark, as monos and multis blast north at double digit speeds.

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    Are the one time leaders PEAR SHAPED and ANGRY BEAVERS still in the race? We do know Spot trackers don't work under water and if the R@AK provided lithium battery fails, the racing crew is responsible to have spares.

    Leaving the question of what's happened to PSRT and ANGRY BEAVERS for later, that leaves SAIL LIKE A GIRL and Nathalie and crew on TEAM SHUT UP AND DRIVE in contention to win. Both boats are about the same speed, have skilled crews, and advanced pedal drives.

    We do not know if NATHALIE has put any or all of her non-sailing pedalers ashore to save weight.

    So here's the kicker. TSLAG has just committed to going inside Aristazabal and likely Banks Islands. Them's narrow channels, in some places a mile wide and less. And it looks like TSUAD is going outside, into the S. Hecate Straits, where the winds are forecast to be stronger, the seas higher, and the depths less.

    We won't know for several hours which choice pays ..but it's woman skipper against woman skipper with hugely supportive and seaworthy crews, fast and strong boats. Ketchikan is only 210 miles up the road, a days run for either of these boats if the breeze holds......

    In answer to the query, how much darkness is there at their latitudes? My estimate is 3-4 hours. The rest is semi-illuminated with dawn or dusk, well before the sun rises about 4:30 a.m and sets about 11 p.m.
    Last edited by sleddog; 06-09-2019 at 09:19 PM.

  10. #50
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    Jul 2016
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    Bodfish, CA
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    Another day in Bodfish, wondering where the boats without current tracker data are located.....
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