Trip Log - 2007 Annapolis to Newport Race

2007 Annapolis to Newport Race

Crew: Kevin Sherwood, Greg Guess, Alex Schill, Tim Fawcett, Bart Szczech, Bob Sopka

REPORTING DATE LOCATION COMMENTS PICTURES
(Click on image for larger version)

Tuesday
June 5, 2007 Baltimore, MD We departed Cape may at 1630 hrs yesterday, making it under the two bridges over the Cape May Canal on the way out to Delaware Bay. In what has been in the past a place of thoroughly uninteresting sailing, the Delaware Bay provided an extremely pleasant sail on a favorable current up to the C&D canal. From there, we motored over to the Chesapeake where we found a brisk 8-12 knots of wind on the nose down to North Point. Once we turned up the Patapsco, however, we had a great close to beam reach sail at 7-7.5 kt the rest of the way to the dock.

Infrared was tied up at 1030 hrs. All on board were elated with the experience even though we were forced to drop out and didn't reach Newport. The crew was the best one could hope for in terms of enthusiasm, compatibility, skill, and toughness. Kevin Sherwood was extremely meticulous and accurate as our navigator. Greg Guess, Alex Schill, and Bart Szczech were unfailingly attentive and alert to all aspects of sail trim and boat handling. Tim Fawcett was not only a huge contributor to boat handling, he even did the cooking! Sandy Krauer, our on shore support, prepared wonderful meals. All in all, the crew did a masterful and seamanlike job in some trying condidions.
The pivotal forecast chart.

Sunset over Delaware Bay.

Monday
June 4, 2007 Cape May, NJ As the dateline shows, we are not in Newport! We were forced to retire from the race midday on Sunday because of the deteriorating weather conditions. We were already in 25-35 kts of wind with waves that were 6-10 feet and building. When we downloaded the NWS Ocean Prediction Center 24 Hour forecast chart, we saw that they were looking for the system to be exactly atop our projected position at 0800 this morning and with sustained winds above 40 knots!

When we bailed out, we were about 50 nm ESE of the Delaware Bay so it was another 7 hours just to get to Cape May. We (mainly Kevin and Tim who were on the foredeck) made a sail change down to the blade, but eventually furled that and came in on a triple reefed main doing 7.5 knots. We arrived with no injuries to either crew or boat.

We took as many pictures and video as conditions would allow and I will post the best ones and fill in more detail later on.

We plan to leave Cape May at 1600 hrs today (the time of low tide, required for Infrared to get under the two bridges over the Cape May Canal) and head up the Delaware Bay, through the C & D Canal, and down the Chesapeake to Baltimore. We ought to arrive Tuesday afternoon.
Ocean sailing.

Reefed ocean sailing.

On with the race!

Ready for the start.

Thursday
May 31, 2007 Annapolis, MD Except for topping off the fuel tank and filling the water, we are loaded with stores, sails, supplies, emergency equipment, and tons of other stuff. Our start time was announced at the captains' meeting as 1215 hrs in the PHRF II fleet. The race tracker shows us as the (appropriately) red dot.

The present weather outlook suggests that we will beat down the bay in 10 kt winds tomorrow, with the wind picking up a bit as we near Cape Charles. The real interesting part looks like Monday, when we hope to be off New Jersey with a coastal low chasing us. Gale warnings are a strong possibility, setting up winds from our starboard quarter at 25-30 knots. If we are indeed off New Jersey by then, it should be a very fast, exciting ride into Narragansett Bay!

Wednesday
May 30, 2007 Annapolis, MD We continue to load Infrared with provisions preparing for departure mid-day Friday. All check-in requirements have been met and the Race Tracker device has been mounted.

2007 Annapolis to Newport Race
Crew: Kevin Sherwood, Greg Guess, Alex Schill, Tim Fawcett, Bart Szczech, Bob Sopka
REPORTING DATE	LOCATION	COMMENTS	PICTURES (Click on image for larger version)
Tuesday June 5, 2007	Baltimore, MD	We departed Cape may at 1630 hrs yesterday, making it under the two bridges over the Cape May Canal on the way out to Delaware Bay. In what has been in the past a place of thoroughly uninteresting sailing, the Delaware Bay provided an extremely pleasant sail on a favorable current up to the C&D canal. From there, we motored over to the Chesapeake where we found a brisk 8-12 knots of wind on the nose down to North Point. Once we turned up the Patapsco, however, we had a great close to beam reach sail at 7-7.5 kt the rest of the way to the dock. Infrared was tied up at 1030 hrs. All on board were elated with the experience even though we were forced to drop out and didn't reach Newport. The crew was the best one could hope for in terms of enthusiasm, compatibility, skill, and toughness. Kevin Sherwood was extremely meticulous and accurate as our navigator. Greg Guess, Alex Schill, and Bart Szczech were unfailingly attentive and alert to all aspects of sail trim and boat handling. Tim Fawcett was not only a huge contributor to boat handling, he even did the cooking! Sandy Krauer, our on shore support, prepared wonderful meals. All in all, the crew did a masterful and seamanlike job in some trying condidions.	The pivotal forecast chart. Sunset over Delaware Bay.
Monday June 4, 2007	Cape May, NJ	As the dateline shows, we are not in Newport! We were forced to retire from the race midday on Sunday because of the deteriorating weather conditions. We were already in 25-35 kts of wind with waves that were 6-10 feet and building. When we downloaded the NWS Ocean Prediction Center 24 Hour forecast chart, we saw that they were looking for the system to be exactly atop our projected position at 0800 this morning and with sustained winds above 40 knots! When we bailed out, we were about 50 nm ESE of the Delaware Bay so it was another 7 hours just to get to Cape May. We (mainly Kevin and Tim who were on the foredeck) made a sail change down to the blade, but eventually furled that and came in on a triple reefed main doing 7.5 knots. We arrived with no injuries to either crew or boat. We took as many pictures and video as conditions would allow and I will post the best ones and fill in more detail later on. We plan to leave Cape May at 1600 hrs today (the time of low tide, required for Infrared to get under the two bridges over the Cape May Canal) and head up the Delaware Bay, through the C & D Canal, and down the Chesapeake to Baltimore. We ought to arrive Tuesday afternoon.	Ocean sailing. Reefed ocean sailing. On with the race! Ready for the start.
Thursday May 31, 2007	Annapolis, MD	Except for topping off the fuel tank and filling the water, we are loaded with stores, sails, supplies, emergency equipment, and tons of other stuff. Our start time was announced at the captains' meeting as 1215 hrs in the PHRF II fleet. The race tracker shows us as the (appropriately) red dot. The present weather outlook suggests that we will beat down the bay in 10 kt winds tomorrow, with the wind picking up a bit as we near Cape Charles. The real interesting part looks like Monday, when we hope to be off New Jersey with a coastal low chasing us. Gale warnings are a strong possibility, setting up winds from our starboard quarter at 25-30 knots. If we are indeed off New Jersey by then, it should be a very fast, exciting ride into Narragansett Bay!
Wednesday May 30, 2007	Annapolis, MD	We continue to load Infrared with provisions preparing for departure mid-day Friday. All check-in requirements have been met and the Race Tracker device has been mounted.