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Antigua. Superyacht Cup
11th December – Race day 2
The second day of racing gave us two shorter races. The wind was blowing around 20 knots most of the time with stronger gusts, although we did not have the heavy rain squalls of the previous day.
Each race was about fifteen miles, and the first race started with a beat up south coast of the island. We were the third boat to start on handicap, but soon overtook the other two boats on the beat to be first at the weather mark. We managed to hold the lead on the next two legs and finished comfortably in first place. Wild Horses suffered some damage and retired.
The second race was sailed on the same course, but in reverse. We had suffered some damage to the mizzen boom, so we could not use the mizzen on the second race. For the beat the wind was strong enough that we did not suffer, and despite overstanding the mark a little we still rounded first equal, alongside Signe. Kalikobass rounded close behind us. Tenacious suffered some damage to her mainsail and retired.
The second leg was a close reach and we steadily pulled ahead of the others. The final leg saw us hoist the spinnaker and hold our lead to the finish.
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Antigua. Superyacht Cup
10th December. Race 1
Many yachts sailing to Antigua this year experienced heavy weather en route, and this delayed the arrival of some yachts that were planning to compete in the Superyacht Cup. We had just five yachts line up for the first race, but the racing was very intense.
The races are handicap pursuit races. The yachts start in reverse order of their expected speed, and if the handicap folk have done their job well, then all the boats will finish at the same time.
The Bruce King ketch Signe was the first boat away, starting some half an hour before Timoneer, who was the fourth to cross the start line. We had about 20 knots of wind on the beam to the first buoy, some six miles south of English Harbour. We were just able to carry the mizzen-staysail and arrived at the buoy at the same time as a rain squall, which brought a bit more wind.
We gybed around the mark and sailed another reach down to Curtain Bluff, passing Wild Horses about two thirds of the way down the leg. Another big squall with heavy rain arrived as we got close to the mark, making it a little difficult to spot the buoy.
We found the buoy, and rounded close behind Tenacious, and soon passed her on the beat up to the finish. Signe was a long way ahead, and although we were catching her quickly on the beat, she crossed the finish line off the entrance of English Harbour a couple of minutes ahead of us.
Wild horses gained a little on the beat, but finished in third place, just ahead of Tenacious. Kalikobas tore her genoa and finished fifth.
For further news, photos and information on the regatta see www.thesuperyachtcup.com
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Sunday, 30 November 2008
Noon Position — 19 35.0N 65 27.1W
Course – 135 Degrees
Speed – 10 Knots
Day’s Run – 249 Miles
Summary:
The Trade Winds are starting to blow. We have 20 knots from the east and we
are motor-sailing South East, with the staysail set. We are still managing
to make about 10 knots into a slightly lumpy sea.
We are 85 miles NW of Anguilla, where we will bear away and hopefully have a
nice sail for the last hundred miles to Antigua. All being well, we hope to
make our landfall in Antigua early Monday morning.
No fish in the past 24 hours, but we did lose two hooks, so there are some
fish about.
John Campbell
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Saturday, 29 November 2008
Noon Position — 22 11.7N 66 53.4W
Course – 127 Degrees
Speed – 11 Knots
Day’s Run – 263 Miles
Summary:
The weather is getting warmer; we officially passed into the tropics at 1 am
this morning. The wind is still light North Easterly, so we are
motor-sailing with main and staysail, steering towards Anguilla.
At present rate of progress we hope to reach Antigua early Monday morning.
We saw our first ship since Wednesday and yesterday afternoon caught another
bill-fish which was released. No more fish yet today.
The decks are being scrubbed to remove the last of the boatyard grime.
John Campbell
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Friday, 28 November 2008
NOON POSITION — 24 53.7N 070 43.5W
COURSE – 127 Degrees
SPEED – 10.5 Knots
DAY’S RUN – 251 Miles
SUMMARY:
One tuna yesterday afternoon but no further luck!
The weather has remained stable for the past 24 hours with only a slight
Northerly swell to roll the boat from time to time. We have passed the half
way point this morning with 650 miles remaining until the corner.
The crew are doing well and continue to work on cleaning the interior and
deck and a few projects.
Jim Duhamel
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008
NOON POSITION – 30 01.2N 078 08.3 W
COURSE – 130 Degrees
SPEED – 10.1 Knots
DAY’S RUN – 194 Miles (19 hours)
NEWS:
Timoneer has returned to the sea. After almost three months in Thunderbolt, GA, Timoneer has begun her journey back to the Caribbean for another season. The works in the engine room were completed on schedule; in time to make the Super Yacht Cup in Antigua.
The weather has been favorable for us. A front has just passed off the east coast on Monday giving us a window of light winds and calm seas to get underway. These are the perfect conditions for testing the systems recently fitted during the yard period.
The trip is expected to take between 5 and 6 days, and the forecast is for light wind throughout so unfortunately we may not have much chance to sail.
The crew are happy to be underway again, and look forward to the season ahead.
Jim Duhamel
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Monday, 01 September 2008
NEWS:
Timoneer arrived off the Sea Bouy, Wassaw Sound on schedule at 0700 this morning. We covered at total of 786 miles and averaged 10.9 knots for the passage. This slower speed than normal was partly due to the Gulf Stream against us but also because we slowed down at midday yesterday to make sure we did not arrive too early.
The weather this morning was a bit more windy with passing rain squalls but it was deemed that the entrance was easily passable so we followed the Marina boat through the surf line and into the Wilmington River. It takes about an hour to get from the sea up the river to Thunderbolt which is a small satelite town of Savannah and our home for the next couple of months. Coming up the river is beautiful with great scenery and old southern style mansions lining the river banks amidst large Spanish Oaks covered in moss, straight out of Forest Gump.
When we arrived we learnt that a tropical revolving storm is headed this way from the Bahamas so we are at present strapping down and making preparations just in case.
This will be the end of these reports until we are back at sea again in late November.
All crew are fit and healthy and the boat is spic and span.
PW
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Sunday, 31 August 2008
NOON POSITION: 33 09 N 077 21 W
COURSE: 240 Degrees
SPEED: 11.5 Knots
DAY’S RUN: 268 Miles – again!
WEATHER: Considerably warmer and now muggy. Sea Temp has increased from 76 degrees to 85.
WIND: Light SE’ly yesterday and now NE’ly 5 – 10 knot
NEWS:
Everything continues going well with light winds and flat seas which is what we like. As we closed in yesterday afternoon on the notorious Cape Hatteras we saw many dolphins and a few pilot whales heading south. The shipping traffic also increased and then by the time we rounded the Cape at 2130 there were some very dramatic lightning storms over the land, with brilliant forked bolts in all directions. Meantime on board we had clear skies and lots of bright stars.
By evening we had caught a few more Skipjack Tuna (released) but nothing more, which was a bit depressing. The lines went out at first light this morning and again more Skippies but finally caught a nice sized king mackerel which Penny has grilled for our lunch.
We are making good progress and should make it to the entrance by 0900 Monday.
All crew are in fine fettle and taking care of jobs on deck.
PW
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Saturday, 30 August 2008
NOON POSITION: 36 43N 074 13W
COURSE: 210 Degrees
SPEED: 11.3 Knots
DAY’S RUN: 268 Miles
WEATHER: Fine and clear with plenty of sunshine.
WIND: Westerly at 10 knots
NEWS:
Yesterday continued very calm and altho we had a few hits on the line they seemed to be very small and could not hold on. We were running down the edge of the continental shelf so were hoping for some blue fin tuna but to no avail. We did see quite a lot of life in the forms of sharks, sunfish, dolphins and of course other fishermen!
Now that we are in the Gulf Stream the temperature has climbed and it is quite warm on board, the sea temp is at 78 degrees.
The lines were out at very first light and just after 6am we caught three skipjack tuna in quick succession, all of which we released. Nothing since!
All is well on board and we are making good progress toward expected arrival on Monday morning. PW
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