Our call for more STAPY (Sailish Totally Arbitrary Performance of the Year) awards worked! Alert Reader Jim Stewart submitted the following:
You have to include Leo Goolden with his rebuild of the historic TallyHo in Port Townsend. He must get a million views a month on his YouTube channel and is a huge benefit to the local wooden boat community.
-Jim Stewart
I had not heard of Leo Goolden, but a quick look at some of the videos (check out www.youtube.com/@SampsonBoatCo) is eye-opening. Goolden is undertaking a massive project, the restoration of the 120+ year old gaff boatTally Ho. This restoration has been going on for 5 years and Goolden’s YouTube channel has 431K subscribers! A lot of questions come to mind, like what’s Tally Ho‘s backstory? How did Goolden get here? More importantly, where does he get the energy for this project? What will Tally Ho end up doing when she’s beautifully functional again? My guess is the answers are all in the videos, and I suggest readers with an interest go to his YouTube channel. In the meantime, here’s a taste:
Leo at the beginning of the Tally Ho project
If any other Alert Readers have a nomination, send it my way.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Bruce promised some Boat of the Year awards, so here we go with the 2022 Sailish Totally Arbitrary Performance of the Year awards. The STAPYs if you will.
Pacific Northwest sailing and sailors are so spread out and diverse, we’ve chosen to pick and choose some arbitrary awards. Here’s the kicker, since our beloved pastime is so diverse, we want YOU to send in your choices. One rule, you can’t choose yourself. And here’s the kicker, it can be for just about anything sailing related. Racing, cruising, organizing, teaching, designing, building new boats, resurrecting old boats, good crew work, writing, rescues, selling and so forth. There’s a lot going on and plenty of people deserve kudos. Email me your nominations.
Kurt’s Nominations
Dalton on the Tasar
Dalton Bergan We know Dalton’s been winning races ever since laying hands on a tiller. But this year was truly exceptional. He won both the RS Aero 7 Worlds on the Columbia River Gorge and the Tasar Worlds with wife Lindsey on Puget Sound.
Andrew Nelson
Andrew Nelson Andrew has been the junior sailing director at The Sailing Foundation for 8 years. During that time youth sailing has exploded in participation, largely due to his energy and skills. He is moving on from that position now and leaving some big booties to fill.
Craig Horsfield
Craig Horsfield My old skipper has truly outdone himself this time. First he took on the Mini Transat with two successful races. He is currently in the throes the first-ever Globe 40 doublehanded round the world race aboard Amhas. Teaming up with two other sailors, and splitting the legs between them. He’s sailed legs 2 (4th) and 4 (1st) and plans on racing three more legs.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee His lifelong sailing resume is legendary. Dinghies, keelboats, inshore, offshore, Olympics, pro sailing, you name it. This year he received the recognition he deserves, entry into the Hall of Fame. Just remember, when you race against Jonathan, you’re racing against royalty.
Kirk at the helm of Teaser
Kirk UtterWell-known on the Seattle racing scene, he’d been threatening to sail off cruising into the sunset for many years. Well, he did it! Those of us wanting to do the same have to admire him for “just doing it.” He’s very active on Facebook if you’re interested in his adventures.
All those rescuers of Andy Schwenk While delivering his Express 37 Spindrift V back from Hawaii after winning his class in the Pacific Cup, expat Northwesterner Andy suffered a severe injury and resulting sepsis. Without the help and coordination of fellow sailors, a commercial ship, the Navy and many others, he might well have died. It’s a good sign that the first law of the sea (help other mariners in need) is alive and well.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
My friend Brad Baker died on September 30 after a remarkable fight with brain cancer. He was diagnosed nearly four years ago with a very aggressive glioblastoma.
The basics are that Brad died far too young at age 58, and is survived by his wife P.J. and sons Bryce and Austin. He co-founded Swiftsure Yachts and sent many sailors off in their perfect boats for their life-changing adventures. As a navigator, Brad won the Vic-Maui race multiple times, both on elapsed and corrected finishes. More than one skipper owe their trophies to Brad.
In addition to being my friend, Brad taught me a lot.
It was Brad who showed me someone can be a yacht broker, enjoy it and have some success. As a journalist, sailor and boat buyer, I viewed brokers skeptically and would say so. Brad took it all in stride, not taking it personally. That’s because he was a good broker in every sense of the word, caring for his customers and very up-front with all the elements of boat buying and selling.
As a racing sailor, I watched closely as he assembled winning teams. He knew that everybody on board was there to enjoy themselves, not just to make the boat faster. While as intense as anybody I’ve raced with, he always respected that bigger picture. He understood and played to everybody’s strengths, including the owners’.
But perhaps the most meaningful of Brad’s lessons was to seize the big moments when they came. In his case, it was to cruise with his family. When he saw the opportunity to long distance cruise with P.J., Bryce and Austin, he moved on it. At a time when staying home managing a business and making money was certainly an option (and one that would prevail for many) he saw the chance to give his family the invaluable long-term cruise. The Bakers crossed oceans, anchored in picturesque coves and met new and wonderful people in every port.
Brad at the computer
How valuable that time turned out to be.
Even after his diagnosis and treatments, Brad seized opportunities to sail, race and even deliver boats. He could have wallowed, but instead lived his life as best as possible right up until the end.
We all have lost a good shipmate. My heart aches for P.J., Bryce and Austin.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Amid the dedicated cruisers at our dock is Fury, a Baltic 42DP. A 2012 black LPU paint job makes this 1982 racer cruiser look classy and stylish in a way that belies her age. From a sailing standpoint, she shares a design lineage with Doug Peterson-designed Serendipity 43s. Baltic had cutting edge construction for the time, giving it an advantage over other production racer cruisers of the time. Below deck, it was configured to give the owner a true aft cabin without compromising the navigation station, galley or salon.
When her racing days were over, Fury became a dedicated, kayak-carrying cruiser. No big modifications were made to make her into a cruiser, as she was already configured properly with a good galley, large salon, and fore and aft staterooms with separate heads.
Fury is very much a sailor’s boat. She sails well on all points of sail. Large winches, headsail furling and lazy jacks make handling the powerful rig straightforward and manageable. Downwind her spinnaker will add power for the light wind. Upwind? Well, not many boats go more smoothly or powerfully than a 1980s Peterson design. A lot of “modern” boat skippers will wonder if you’re motoring.
And not many boats are going to garner the same looks as Fury at the dock. Comments will be a mix of “What IS that?” and “I remember racing against those!”
I would love to chat about Fury’s particulars with anyone who’s interested.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
If ever there was an entry list of who’s who in Seattle dinghy racing, one doesn’t really have to look further than the Tasar Worlds entry list. The regatta started today off Shilshole, and goes through next Saturday.
From the 217 Worlds in Japan, won by Jonathan McKee and Libby Johnson-McKee.
For those unfamiliar with the Tasar, it’s a 15′, 150- lb. 2-person skiff. With it’s light weight, fully battened main and rotating mast, it rewards excellent crew work and weight placement. The best sailors are those that work closely together. It’s not a boat that requires extraordinary strength or size, and is designed so that couples can be competitive.
As is most often the case, the real strength of the class isn’t the boat, but the people. It’s a tightknit group of enthusiasts that keep the class vibrant despite limited numbers and the distances between active fleets. Over the years, the Worlds have been on the Columbia River Gorge and Esquimalt in BC. They have also been in the UK, Japan Thailand and Australia.
The boat has been around since the mid-1970s and has been a mainstay of the Northwest most of that time. World. Major international regatta and Worlds winners from the PNW include Jonathan McKee and Libby Johnson-McKee, Charlie and Becky McKee, Jay and Lisa Renehan, Carol and Carl Buchan and Anthony and Haley Boscolo. Others on the podium include Dalton and Lindsey Bergan and Mike Karas. Teams from Australia and Japan have also made the trek to Seattle.
Looking to this year’s Worlds, most of the usual class suspects are tuned up again, with many of them shifting their focus from singlehanding at the RS Aero Worlds at Cascade Locks this summer to sailing with a partner for this regatta. Other strong entries from the area include Stasi Burzycki and Sophia Kasper. and Dieter Creitz and Sam Bush.
If you want to see dinghy sailing at its finest, and the current sailing conditions hold fast this week, a day watching these Worlds may be well worth the time.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Sail Sand Point, Seattle’s local non-profit small boating and sailing center are hosting Octoberfest on September 10-11 which is the final (and largest) youth regatta on the 2022 Northwest Youth Racing Circuit (NWYRC). This series is put on by local clubs and sailing centers with support from numerous volunteers and families. Youth sailors are encouraged to register asap for this fun event and everyone is welcome to come down and watch from the best regatta viewing locations in the region directly adjacent to SSP– Magnuson Park’s public pier, or from the deck of the Magnuson Brewery and Cafe.
Sail Sand Point is a local treasure introducing countless youth, new sailors and underserved communities to sailing every year and their one month long summer fundraising campaign ends on Labor Day weekend. This year contributions will help provide funds for new equipment, sail and powerboat parts, and much needed repairs to their fleet of vessels which are used by over 12,000 people each year through camps, classes, racing, rentals and free community events. Each year SSP spend roughly $27,000 on keeping their boats on the water and in great condition and they are hoping to raise that through this campaign! Secure donations can be made at: https://www.sailsandpoint.org/donate/
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Local Seattle sailor Craig Horsfield has added another feather to his singlehanded racing cap, and this is a big one a victory with Oliver Bond in the longest leg of the initial Globe40 race. We’ll hear more from him soon, “Craig is very chatty so I’ll have him call you as soon as he’s slept and the time difference works,” according to his wife Carolyn who took these photos. In the meantime, here’s the press release.
Craig Horsfield
After 35 days 10 hours 42 minutes and 42 seconds of navigation, Craig Horsfield and Oliver Bond reach Mauritius as the winner on this second and longest leg of the GLOBE40. By crossing the finish line this Monday morning at 2 hours 42 minutes and 42 seconds (UTC), the American crew treated themselves to a finish under the magnificent colors of the Mauritian sunrise. From Cape Verde in the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, passing through the Doldrums, the Equator, the Saint Helena High and the Cape of Good Hope at 38° South, the sailors of the GLOBE40 experienced a veritable epic of 7,667 nautical miles (14,200 km) worthy of the greatest tales of sailing around the world.
“It’s been a long trip so far, longer than we had planned before departure. We managed this big step by cutting it into 4 pieces. The stage seemed so huge to us before the start that it was necessary to manage the events one after the other. The first piece was a quick little regatta through the Cape Verde archipelago that lasted 2 days. Excellent moments of gliding, only happiness. On the second part, the South Atlantic and the Saint Helena high, it was necessary to show good strategic analysis to cross this level crossing. The third part, with the circumvention of southern Africa and the passage of the Cape of Good Hope, was physically tough because we encountered difficult sea conditions and sometimes very cold temperatures. The last piece in the Indian Ocean was very difficult. In fact we thought it was going to be the easiest part of the stage, but it was the hardest. »say the two sailors after touching down.
A victory acquired in a very good way by the American skippers. In the right tempo from the first miles, they have rarely accumulated more than thirty miles behind the rival and Japanese leader Milai throughout the descent of the South Atlantic. They didn’t give up, despite the hardness of the stage on a physical and mental level due to its long distance, the harsh sea and weather conditions encountered and the technical problems faced. In this mano a mano on a planetary scale, the American-British duo benefited from the South African pit-stop operated by Masa Suzuki and Andrea Fantini to take the leadership of the fleet as they passed the Cape of Good Hope, without stopping never give it up to the turquoise Mauritian waters. This victory on this major stage with a coefficient of 3.
“Our strategy was to stay in contact with the front of the race. When we were off Brazil, turning to Cape Town, we wanted to be among the best. The next strategy was to pass the South without incident and then finish at full speed in the Indian Ocean. In practice, we had to adapt. We accelerated a little more than expected during the crossing of the South by being in contact with Milai. Then, when we took the lead, we managed the sequence of events more. We changed our plans to preserve the boat, while the others tried to catch up with us. Our roadmap evolved according to the race situation. Twice we changed options to join another competitor’s route. We lost half a day to find ourselves in a position that prevented them from overtaking us. It would have been faster to go east but if there had been a problem, we offered them the opportunity to win so we decided to come closer to take that option away from them. This is how we managed the finish. Even if it forced us to navigate more slowly at times. »analyze Craig and Oliver on the spot before continuing by emphasizing the excellent spirit present between the competitors. “One of our best memories is the communication between the boats. Especially with Masa (Milai) and Mélodie (Whiskey Jack) trying to solve their technical problems. Despite the fierce competition, even if we like confrontation, it’s nice to share. We appreciate helping each other. If a problem arises, if someone breaks something, we are sorry for him. »
After another very fine sail, the Dutch duo aboard Sec Hayai are on a favorable run-off to clinch second place on Tuesday 23rd August.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Ever since my friend and Laser regatta roommate Todd Willsie imported his RS Aero into the Seattle dinghy racing scene, one of the fleet’s questions has been “when will Kurt make the switch from Laser to Aero?” It was a question only because I was often the loudest cheerleader for the Laser fleet.
It wasn’t long before the dam broke and the remnants of the struggling Laser fleet made the switch as well. The Laser Performance vs. ILCA feud helped anyone on the fence make the move. (ILCA triumphed and if I were enlightened, I wouldn’t call them Lasers, just ILCAs.) This new Aero boat drew out new blood and some former Laser sailors from the woodwork.
At least the grown-up crowd made the switch. Covid breathed some life into the Pandemic friendly sport for kids and many were introduced to Lasers. They were available and not too expensive. And they were still an Olympic boat after all. I remained a cheerleader and honestly optimistic that the Lasers and Aeros could not only co-exist, but maybe even help each other thrive.
Fortunately, local dinghy and rigging company (and Sailish sponsor) West Coast Sailing saw things the same way. They continued to support Lasers while doing their utmost to establish and support the Seattle RS Aero fleet.
Largely, that symbiotic relationship between the classes has continued. And it’s a very good thing for the future of sailing and sailboat racing.
The evidence is in the summer of Columbia River Gorge sailing. In the recently concluded RS Aero Worlds, 54 sailors duked it out in near perfect conditions, including some “epic Gorge conditions” of around 30 knots. The boats held together, and the out-of-country visitors will no doubt go home singing the praises of the conditions and level of talent making the trek down from Seattle.
Embracing the Dark Side
Watching my friends beat up on each other in Aeros was a little hard to watch, so I finally made the switch this year. Hence My Aero’s name (suggested by fellow Laser sailor Mark Ross) being Dark Side.
I’ve sailed the Aero several times, and it’s taken all of them – and probably more – to flush some old Laser habits out of my system. RS Aeros are undeniably different. On the obvious side is weight of the boat (and particularly the spars). The flat aft sections of the Aero versus the rounded Laser sections certainly provide a different feel.
On the practical side, the Aero has several advantages. It’s easier to rig – especially when it comes time to hoist the sail. No more lugging the big sail around before putting it into the maststep. It’s substantially lighter to move around on shore. And it’s faster, particularly downwind when the wind picks up.
However, the Lasers (OK – ILCAs) still have some advantages, especially for youth sailing. They are certainly more rugged. Even with modern materials, you don’t get rid of that much weight without affecting the ruggedness factor. My experience capsizing an Aero (and I’ve had fair amount already) is certainly scarier than capsizing a Laser. First off, the Aero might just decide to drift away from you faster than you can swim to catch up. Hang on to that mainsheet when you go over. Secondly, the most consistent way to get onboard is over the transom. Coming in from the side on a righted Aero will likely mean it will capsize toward you. If you stubbornly try to come in from the side, as I did once, 50-degree water will zap your strength in a hurry. Right the boat and promptly make your way to the transom.
And then there are the fleets. The ILCA class remains strong, particularly for youth. There are fleets all over the world, plus world championships and Olympics. At the other end of age spectrum, Master racing in this class is unparalleled. The RS company does a great job of supporting their boats but it will be a while before Aero’s are a mainstay like Lasers.
Sailing an Aero
For those wondering about the transition, I’ll put it this way. Remember when you first sailed a Laser and everything seemed happened twice as fast as you were used to? And then eventually you got the hang of it and the rate of things was the new normal? Expect the same evolution in Aeros. Damn, things happen fast. And of course, Aeros like to move – they have to move for the high efficiency foils to work. Speed supersedes pointing. Downwind, they’re quick to react. When starting, you can’t remain quite as static as you did while holding position in a Laser.
If my 11 or 15 year old boys were to take up singlehanded dinghy racing, I’d point them at the Laser. Actually, I’d just have them use mine – I’m keeping it in case there’s a masters regatta I can attend. I guess I’d have to buy a new sail with that ILCA logo so I don’t stick out.
As long as I’m quick enough to keep the boat upright I’ll be racing the RS Aero against my old friends.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Craig Horsfield is racing a Class 40 boat around the world in the Globe 40. Here’s his report from partway through Leg 2. Following is a more recent update – they’re leading!
Amhas
“Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast”
We are 8 days and 1500 NM in with no breakage or damage.
July 17 was the start of the longest ever class forty race leg, covering over 700 miles with 3 oceans and one cape.
With limited experience, we elected to start conservatively down at the pin end where there was no traffic and the risk of been rolled was low. The mark was a reach, then you can go inside the mark and south past Sao Vincent to Port or Round the mark and go North around Sao Vincent a longer route. Why would anyone do that? We all took the latter as the wind shadow on the south option was an issue and we could use the acceleration on the east side of the island. We started with 1 reef and a J2 up. Most other boats were J1 and Code 0 quickly coming out. Our simple start took us to the mark and in 3rd place before rounding and going upwind. However, we needed more sail and had to change from J2 to J1, dropping back on the few mile beat around the north side. Our goal for Day 1 was to sustain no damage and just to stay close to the fleet.
With more than 20 Knts in the acceleration zone we set up for a very slow and safe first hoist of a spinnaker. We set an A7 – a new fractional all-purpose spi. Other boats went for full size masthead A2 spi. We thought we would be left behind but found ourselves safe on auto pilot, doing about 15k nts downwind while other boats around us rounded up and had issues. As night fell we were surprised to be right with most the fleet despite our simple start, which built our confidence into the night. Late into the night, we started to feel the impact of the wind shadow to our port and we could see on AIS that the 3 other boats to our port had started to slow. We gybed west to stay in the wind corridor, making a gain that would later put us in the lead. The next decision was whether to go inside or outside the island of Pogo, a large southern Cape Verde island. We decided to stay inside, on the east side, again looking for acceleration as we had still been using the smaller A7 and needed pressure. Mostly the east/ west split on Pogo was a wash in the fleet and we later crossed gybes with the Dutch who went the other way. Then it was a long haul to the SE on starboard, waiting for a SE wind shift we could tack on and get south. The shift came in and we went for it 3 hours after the shift and were again the first boat to change course. This turned out to be bitter sweet, as we drag raced south and won the race to the equator but we are more west and have west current set. This with the wind not lifting enough we are sailing close haul almost currently on the 1800-mile port tack to the South Atlantic High and the Southern Ocean. Overall we are going to have to pay a 12 – 18-hour penalty for this westing for sure.
Long hot days in the sun, currently passing 4 deg S. All is well onboard. The teams have all been very collaborative and supporting; it is good to know that they are nearby, both pushing us and supporting us.
Following are late-breaking updates from Globe 40 headquarters:
GLOBE40 IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
Amhas (purple) leading around Africa
This day at 12H44’23” UTC AMHAS skipped by Craig Horsfield (USA) and Oliver Bond (UK) was the first GLOBE40 competitor to reach the length of Cap des Aiguilles and therefore to return to the Indian Ocean. A strong moment for racing as it certainly was for the skippers and especially South African-born Craig Horsfield.
AMHAS had also taken the lead of the race this morning, a constant presence in the forefront since the departure from Cape Verde, away from the Japanese competitor MILAI Around The World having rarely exceeded 20 miles for the last 3 weeks ines. 5,000 miles have been covered since departure from Mindelo at an average of 9.3 knots and about 2,250 to go before we see the silhouette of Morne Brabant in Mauritius, superb promontory to the south of the island.
A course that will not be risk-free over the next few days with a weather situation set to deteriorate. MILAI following unidentified noises at the level of its bowling, although not directly struggling at the moment, has made the prudent choice of a technical stopover for control in Cape Town or it should arrive in the night. SEC HAYAI, WHISKEY JACK and GRYPHON SOLO 2 will also have to negotiate this hectic passage over the next few days to the dreaded Indian Ocean.
THE GLOBE40 IN INDIAN OCEAN
This day at 12:44’23”UTC AMHAS skippered by Craig Horsfield (USA) and Oliver Bond (UK) was the first competitor in the GLOBE40 to reach the longitude of Cape Agulhas and therefore to return to the Indian Ocean. A huge step for the race as it has certainly been for the skippers and in particular for Craig Horsfield of South African origin.
AMHAS had also taken the lead in the race this morning, a constant presence in the foreground since the start from Cape Verde, the gap with the Japanese competitor MILAI Around The World having rarely exceeded twenty miles for 3 weeks. 5000 miles have been covered since the start in Mindelo at an average of 9.3 knots and there are still around 2250 before touching to see the silhouette of Morne Brabant in Mauritius, a superb promontory in the south of the island. .
A course that will not be without risk in the coming days with a situation expected to deteriorate in a few days. MILAI following unidentified noises at the level of her keel, although clearly not directly in difficulty at the moment, made the prudent choice of a technical stopover for checkpoint in Cape Town where she should arrive in the night. SEC HAYAI, WHISKEY JACK and GRYPHON SOLO 2 will also have to negotiate this turbulent passage towards the formidable Indian Ocean in the coming months. ·
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
This day at 12H44’23” UTC AMHAS skipped by Craig Horsfield (USA) and Oliver Bond (UK) was the first GLOBE40 competitor to reach the length of Cap des Aiguilles and therefore to return to the Indian Ocean. A strong moment for racing as it certainly was for the skippers and especially South African-born Craig Horsfield.
THE GLOBE40 IN INDIAN OCEAN