Kirsten Neuschafer Cape George 36 @ 7.9 knots

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I wonder if Kirsten will end up regretting the hours spent catching up with friends at Stanley.

Perhaps she will.
The wind overlay on GGR live, shows that while her speed is up, it's because she has headed off, a course of ~104 is not helping her.
She's got winds abeam and ahead.
Had she left the Falklands to starboard she would be enjoying winds well abaft the beam for hundreds of miles.
As it shows now, (2000Z,) she might well have a long windward bash.

[boatman61]

According to Windy she should be good from Monday on for a few days.. bit rough but not on the nose.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Perhaps she will.
The wind overlay on GGR live, shows that while her speed is up, it's because she has headed off, a course of ~104 is not helping her.
She's got winds abeam and ahead.
Had she left the Falklands to starboard she would be enjoying winds well abaft the beam for hundreds of miles.
As it shows now, (2000Z,) she might well have a long windward bash.

I doubt Tomy's heading of 291 degrees is helping him to much either especially at 1.7 knots......

Hopefully he doesn't have a major problem though because these two could have a very interesting race for the last 6800 nm or so


Abhilash Tomy India
Rustler 36 - 71

Speed: 1.7 knots @ 291.06°
Owner: Bayanat
Position at: 19 Feb 2023 23:00 UTC
Lat/Lon: 54° 16.89 S, 064° 55.45 W
DTF: 6841.3 NM
Distance (last 24hrs): 118 NM
2nd in All Boats

[boatman61]

I'm guessing this is where strategy comes in.. this is Kirsten's back yard so to speak.
I don't think she minds to much Easting as this will carry her closer to predominant currents and winds and will try to make her crossing of the equator as far East as favourably possible before riding the E'lies up to the W of the Azores then riding the W'lies to the finish line..
Last place she'd want to be is off the S Brazilian coast.

[El Pinguino]

Looks like Abhilash has fallen into a bit of a hole as well.
Contrary to common belief you get quite settled weather in the area - at times.
Western end of Isla de los Estados seen from the north east.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I'm guessing this is where strategy comes in.. this is Kirsten's back yard so to speak.
I don't think she minds to much Easting as this will carry her closer to predominant currents and winds and will try to make her crossing of the equator as far East as favourably possible before riding the E'lies up to the W of the Azores then riding the W'lies to the finish line..
Last place she'd want to be is off the S Brazilian coast.

At present a course 'towards' St Helena - something between NE and ENE - would be my choice.

[thomm225]

Tomy may have another problem so we'll see.

Kirsten is at least still moving at 3.3 knots dealing with that system and I'm sure she'll turn back up soon.

As for Tomy, not sure with his heading of 250 degrees....and speed .8

It's almost like he has stopped to make a repair, but he is in very light winds according to Windy.

[notoldbilbo]

"As for Tomy, not sure with his heading of 250 degrees....and speed .8
It's almost like he has stopped to make a repair, but he is in very light winds according to Windy."


I think you'll find, if you look in 'Windy.ty/Tidestreams' that the powerful tide which helped him so much going north through the Le Maire Strait is now running hard against him....

....and he's at risk of being 'sucked back' into the roughest, fastest part of the tide-race - the NW corner.


If that happens, and if the wind remains light, he's at risk.





But.... there's better breeze forecast in 'several hours', from NW

[notoldbilbo]

This morning, it appears that Abhilash has avoided being 'sucked down the plughole' and is now making way north in better breeze.

Same for Kirsten, Michael and Simon - each of whom now has good breeze.... although Michael may well have more wind in his sails than wanted, over the next couple of days.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I'm guessing this is where strategy comes in.. this is Kirsten's back yard so to speak.
I don't think she minds to much Easting as this will carry her closer to predominant currents and winds and will try to make her crossing of the equator as far East as favourably possible before riding the E'lies up to the W of the Azores then riding the W'lies to the finish line.

It looks like you read the tea-leaves better than I.
Yeah, that front/cell moved easterly, and she's got a good path now.
Go Kristen.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by notoldbilbo

This morning, it appears that Abhilash has avoided being 'sucked down the plughole' and is now making way north in better breeze.

Same for Kirsten, Michael and Simon - each of whom now has good breeze.... although Michael may well have more wind in his sails than wanted, over the next couple of days.

I had pretty much convinced myself that Abhilash was heading for Ush. Good to see him on his way again.

Let's not forget that Simon was in an unbeatable position - until he wasn't.

[El Pinguino]

I've just been listening to Simon on the GGR site.
Does anyone know who is putting out the wx on HF. He refers to him as 'Peter Mont'?

It seems that they are reading out the Directemar forecasts in english.

[thomm225]

So she sailed from Prince Edward Island, Canada down to Cape Town, South Africa as a shakedown cruise before the GGR.

Then back up to Spain before heading to the starting line

These two cruises should help a bit, but as in most distance races, it's all about who gets the best wind etc after the boats get separated.....

Knowledge of the normal ocean winds and currents is a big help though and she has lots of experience sailing the oceans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzXBpni6YMI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1jsgTKxgIo

[thomm225]

Her visit with friends Falklands

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WGpBllwnenc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Ni0HDygno

[thomm225]

Simon C. and Michael G. appear to be in for one heck of a race to the finish line. (no including possible penalties etc.)

They are less than 100 miles apart at the moment.

This could make their final 7,000 miles or so sail much more fun.......