PYC member participating in the Rolex Regatta St Thomas 2010
PYC member Fernando Oliveira is participating in the Rolex Regatta aboard a friend's Summit 40. The regatta begins on March 26th so check back for updates from Fernando.
Good luck Fernando!
Good luck Fernando!
posted by Ann at
10:15 AM
12 Comments:
Had two practice sessions yesterday – the morning practice session was primarily to get the crew and boat acquainted, 3 of us are from the USA and the other seven are from either the UK or AUS.
The afternoon session was primarily spinnaker work (we run both A sails as well as S sails. We did more gybe sets than we will ever do during the race.
Today (thu) is registration day and skipper’s meeting so fairly light day of practice (3 hours mid morning), if time allows we will get in an hour with an new A sail that is scheduled to arrive sometime today.
Some housekeeping items: the race boat is a Summit 40 called “White Heat”, New Castle, NH and the mother-ship (base for the event) is a 58 Cat called “Fantasy Island”. We are anchored off Christmas Cove (a bit further south than most of the members are familiar with, I am afraid). We should have the scratch later today so will provide additional detail in later post. First race is scheduled for 10 AM Friday 26th.
I will provide more detail once we register and get the scratch sheet.
Today’s races were a bit disappointment – a second in the first and a fifth in the second race. Our Summit 40 is a bit more optimized for windward/ leeward courses and today’s courses long legs with heavy swell on long reaches. In any case, tomorrow’s courses are projected to be more to our liking so will have to see.
The good news is that is just fantastic sailing weather down here - 15 knots of wind, sun and 79 degrees. The races today took us from Eastern Side of St. Thomas (Red Hook area) to Charlotte Amelia with a finish in the cruise ship docking area; gave plenty of tourists a terrific view of colorful sails.
We had two races today a 7 mile race before noon-time and a second longer race of 14 miles. Our start in the first race was a bit shy – sharing a starting line with 72’, 68’ and 52’ boats is always a challenge given their size and speed. In any case, we managed to get off in the middle of the pack. The result was a 5th place but within seconds of the top three. The second start was much better; we managed to get clean air at the pin end while the others were fighting amongst themselves at the committee boat end. The second race was a twice as long as the first and took us to the south side of St. John’s and a 3rd place finish.
So at the moment we are tied for third place; tomorrow is a very long race over 22 miles towards Trunk Bay in St. John- if we do well, we will have a place at the podium so the pressure is on for a good showing. Trunk Bay holds a special place for Nancy - fond memories [NOT]
On the navigation front; the Deckman Software with waterproof and sunlight viewable screens - nearly $10k worth of components has been replaced with a Garmin Oregon that is worth $299.00 we now call it [railman].
It is worth pointing out that navigation software on a boat requires a fair amount of trial and error with no guarantees.
In terms of wind and weather conditions: ESE 6-14 knots of wind and sunshine and tomorrow is predicted to be a bit lighter. So we are looking for a good showing.
Last day of the International Rolex Regatta (Sunday) was just a beautiful day for racing – easterly winds 12 – 15 knots. Two races – the first race was a very short 3.5 miles we came in second -missed first by two seconds. The second race was a long 22 mile race up Pillsbury Sound and down towards Trunk Bay – had to fight tough currents but had some local knowledge and prevailed with a second on this race as well so we finished third overall in the IRC division.
Much celebrating at the St. Thomas Yacht Club (two of the crew did not make it back on our tender). However, they found their way – one by swimming 2 miles and the other by hitching a ride.
Great racing series – a must do at least once in one’s lifetime.
Now off to Jost Van Dyke, checking in for the BVI series this coming week. Will try to post a bit of info if wireless becomes available.
Currently on Norman Island near Willy T’s - Today (Tue) we are scheduled to have a long race from Nay Cay, Tortola to the Bitter End Virgin Gorda. The race should take approximately 4-5 hours. The wind is projected to be 16-25knots so it should very lively today.
Today’s race does not count towards the rest of the weeks regatta but it does count towards bragging rights at the bar in Virgin Gorga, so we will have our game on today.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Lots of memories of the BVI's.
See you this summer.
So not much bragging yesterday, it seems that we came in the middle of the pack 9th out of 20 or so. The 18 mile race took us from Nanny Cay to Beef Island over to the Dogs (west, seal and george) then to Mosquito Rock and then a right along the reef to the finish. In terms of the actual sailing; Jib and Main and only a couple of tacks at the finish – rail meat most of the time (not much navigating). The Deckman behaved a bit better but the Garmin keeps on…keeping on - just wish it had a larger screen.
Lay day today, some of the crew will be racing hobie cats and the other half will be moving over to the other side of the Virgin Gorda and spend the afternoon snorkeling after a proper lunch, then its 5pm cocktails and crew dinner.
Tomorrow we race back to Nanny Cay.
ok so the good news is that we actually came in 4th in the first race instread of 9th. it seems the results were a bit prelim.
Todays race got off to a very bad start. a TP 52 hit us and another boat a Martin 49 at the very start and can you believe it--- they pushed us over early so we had to turn back and do over.
The race is just shy of 20 miles and it seems that we are in 4th again out of 20 plus boats.
Tomorrow we start the proper series.
Today is the first day of the BVI regatta and we had a short W/L for the first race - we got a bullet on this and the second race we we picked up second place on a 18 miler around Ginger Island and Dead Chest.
So we are in first place after the first day's of racing.
The weather has been a little out of sorts. Northlies instead of Easterlies but at least its been steady 8-13knots.
Today is Sunday (Easter) and we have two races scheduled to finish off the BVI Regatta Series. Yesterday we had three races – the first was a W/L 1.5 mi race that took 91 minutes (very frustrating) started race with 8knots of wind and when to zero. The faster boats finished first and we took a 4th.
The second race, took awhile for the wind to come back up from the North (this whole series has Northerlies) and we had a long 10 mi race around Dead Chest (next to Peter Island) , we took a 1st.
The third race was the same as the second and we took a 2nd, finishing at nearly 5PM. So right now we are holding first place with a two point lead, but today’s racing could be anyone’s so we are gearing up for a competitive day.
I realize that today is Monday and that racing end yesterday but we managed to win our class with the following finishes:1,2,4,1,2,1,1 which resulted in much celebrating into the late night/early morning.
Then it was off to Smith’s Ferry on the West End for a 7AM ferry back to Charlotte Amelia and then back to Boston this afternoon.
Great series some W/L courses with around the islands courses of various lengths but on average 15 miles. The race committees did a great job on both the Rolex and the BVI series – add warm ocean water and lots of beer and rum and what's not to like.
Both series have a lot to offer sailors – whether it’s your own boat, a bareboat charter, a Hobie cat or a hot racing boat like ours…there is something for everyone.
White Heat is now off to Antigua for the Antigua Race Week later this month. Then it’s off to the UK for the European summer series such as the Commodores Cup. For me, it’s time to get my boat ready for the summer sailing season in New England. Cheers
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