Kirsten Neuschafer Cape George 36 @ 7.9 knots

[notoldbilbo]

I note that Ian H-J tonight is in the lee of the Cape Horn archipelago and seems to have hove-to for the night.... likely to catch up on some needed sleep.

[thomm225]

Yeah they reported earlier that he was hand steering since his vane's rudder had broken off.

Maybe he can rig a tiller to sheet setup soon because he has a long way to go yet

[notoldbilbo]

It may be he'll decide he can fit his spare Hydrovane rudder-blade when hove-to - although that will always be difficult. If so, he could save himself several days and some anguish heading inland to Puerto Williams or Ushuia.

He might perhaps be better off doing a jury-rig to Port Stanley..

[Bowdrie]

^ He is now in the Chichester class, only Tomy and Kristen are left to compete for the winner's circle.
The dead zone has been shifting around so much that it's hard to say who's got a better path thru it.
Although Kirsten is still leading by ~300NM.
I shudder to think of what Ian has gone thru, the description of wave and wind were on the order of "Biblical".

[gonesail]

looks like Tomy may be coming into better wind than Kirsten .. guess the near shore gamble may have paid off

[notoldbilbo]

Originally Posted by gonesail

looks like Tomy may be coming into better wind than Kirsten .. guess the near shore gamble may have paid off

Hmm. Yes. Crafty. So far, so good. But there's more of the same to come....

Simon is still defying all logic and driving on remarkably.

Ian has 'bitten the bullet' and is heading up the Beagle Channel towards Puerto Williams and Ushuaia, for a big steak and a bottle of wine!

[Bowdrie]

I wouldn't write her off just yet.
But yes, she has been successful in finding all the places of little wind for several days.
Still holding ~300NM lead.
Tomy is headed off more westerly which is keeping some wind on the beam, but his boat speed is less than 1Kt.
Simon is and has been blessed with good wind but he's heading into a dead zone in short order.
Go Kristen, please,,,.

[thomm225]

Kirsten appears to be on the favored side of the "course" which is always important in racing.

She's on the windward side so all she needs to do is get thru the doldrums and she might be good after she tacks

[notoldbilbo]

Originally Posted by notoldbilbo

It may be he'll decide he can fit his spare Hydrovane rudder-blade when hove-to - although that will always be difficult. If so, he could save himself several days and some anguish heading inland to Puerto Williams or Ushuia.

He might perhaps be better off doing a jury-rig to Port Stanley..

Beagle Channel....

"Don't forget to put the tin tacks out on deck!"

[notoldbilbo]

Tuesday 1200UTC

Ian H-J is still up his creek without a paddle, while Kirsten, Abhilash and Simon similarly are 'sitting in the sun' going nowhere fast.

[Bowdrie]

I fear that if the winds stay light Kristen may lose the race.
Her boats greater sail carrying ability and longer WL will not help her unless the winds pick-up.
Now if her boat had a wooden mast, she might use the old sailors trick of sticking a knife or marlinspike in the mast to bring better winds.

[notoldbilbo]

There's a couple of thousand' miles yet to go, and half-a-dozen challenging wx. systems. The winds will come and go - and the windshifts.



I understand the perspective, but Abhilash has earned his position too.

[thomm225]

She's been going slow but still to the windward side..

The competition will have to beat a long way to windward to catch her even now.

If she can just catch a break on the wind speed, she may still come out ahead

[gonesail]

i know Tomy will have a tough time heading east .. possibly Simon as well. Kirsten still in good shape.

[Panope]

As much as I love LONG keel boats (I have one),

and

As much as love Cape George Cutters (I work at the factory),

and

As much as admire and respect Kirsten (I have met her, she is awesome),

The reality is that she is at a disadvantage to Abhilash and Simon because their boats are better suited to going to windward. This is due to their boats having much shorter, "cutaway forefoot" keels with the resulting better lift/drag and reduction in wetted area.

If only she could have stretched her lead a bit more when she had conditions that favored her boat (big tailwinds of the Southern Ocean).

Steve