One Girls Ocean Challenge

10pm Monday June 6

As forecast, Diane has good wind for a heavy spinnaker, but no heavy spinnaker. Christian Reimer on Frogger got past her. Diane is doing battle with and continues to hold him off. Not far behind and pressing Diane and Jay is Philippe Laville on Pogo Loco.

The wind seems to have shifted to the north, north west and is forecast to drop. Lighter wind with a deeper angle, she may be able to hoist Big Blue, the large light air running spinnaker.

It’s pretty exciting to watch. has a weather background you can click on. Been checking for their marine forecast.

Afternoon Sunday June 5, 2011

For the next 24 hours the weather is ideal for some fast spinnaker work. 12-15 knot winds out of the north, that will build tonight with gusts to 25kts. This calls for the heavy reaching spinnaker. Uh oh. When we last heard of the heavy reaching kite, it was in the midst of carnal relations with the running backstay and the rudders. Diane had to cut it loose and left a good sized chunk of it in the ocean.

This hole in the sail inventory is not good for Diane. The big, light air runner is not a good choice for reaching in heavier winds. As a result OGOC is sailing along under main and genoa against the other Minis carrying spinnakers. They are slowly getting through her.

Different winds would help. If they lighten, she can pop the light kite. Or if they go forward (develop more of an easterly component), such that all the Minis have to sail under main & genoa, she’ll be back in the race.

Follow the fleet on .

10am Sunday June 5, 2011

has Diane in a good position within the Mini fleet. She’s made over 250 miles with less than 400 to go. She’s making 6 knots according to the tracking.

9pm last night was advised: Diane has wrapped her heavy reaching kite around the runner in twenty knots of breeze. It’s trashed. Currently about 8kts under main and genoa.

Position on iTracker tells a pretty good story. OGOC is level with Frogger and matching speed. The other minis (Pogo Logo & ) are astern. Getting closer to Frogger would minimize the lateral separation as they approach the Gulf Stream.

Noon Saturday June 4, 2011

Contrary to the speed reported by , Diane is making 6-7 knots to the south west in 8-9 knots of breeaze. Her objective is to get back in touch with her competition which has wiggled off to the west.

Currently hoisted is Big Blue (code 2). Diane experimented with some double slotting using the Solent jib as a staysail but there wasn’t enough wind.

The Minis are just interested in racing each other. Further, the Minis have agreed to limit sails to those allowed in class racing. The organizers do not recognize the Minis as sailing under their class rules. The organizers have one, large, mixed PHRF fleet split into five divisions. PHRF does not limit sail inventory. This sail inventory restriction may show the Minis as slow relative to the unrestricted boats in the race.

A large something surfaced in front of her and did a roll. Near miss #1.

‎4pm Friday June 3, 2011

Diane is (ahem) somewhat busy at the month as she is in the heat of battle. She’s currently lying second but the is on and working just fine. While offshore, Diane asked me (Tim) to get her updates onto this blog.

Diane advise: “Woohoo. Trying. Wind has swung on the nose. Seems like an inversion. Genoa up. Already had white kite, jib and blue up and it’s the first day! ;-)”

9am Friday June 3, 2011

Well today is the big day. The great yacht is ready to go. I got a good night’s sleep last night aboard a boat alongside the clubhouse.

It’s blowing like stink this morning out of the North North West. It’s forecast to blow like stink for a good part of the race, while shifting to the North North East.

Thank you to everyone who has made it possible to get here:
for making sure the sails cling together,
for the new standing rigging,
for making sure we were all kitted out,
for their amazing support and products, and
for their ongoing fantastic support with warm dry gear to wear.

Thank you also to all the individual people who have made this happen. There are too many to list, but you all know who you are. For those of you who don’t, there are about 20 people who could be named easily 🙂

I’m feeling good. Plan to approach the start with prudence and perspective. Things can go very wrong, very fast if one fails to keep a watchful eye.

Time for breakfast, then it’s out to the Girl and make our way to the start line. Our start is scheduled for 1140. Check out the race tracking. I will try to remember to push the as well each day. The race tracking has numerous display options including tracking the other racers as well.

is turned on. As of 9am, all the boats are clustered in and around Newport.

The three other minis competing against Diane are:
Pogo Loco, skippered by Philippe Laville of Quebec
Frogger, skippered by Christian Reimer of New York and
, skippered by a Newport native.
All three have all participated in past Bermuda 1-2 races.

6pm Thursday June 2, 2011

What an interesting day. Got out early this morning in the lighter breeze. Did lots of trouble shooting with the autopilot. The same one that gave me troubles before seems to be giving up the ghost again. Good thing I have a second pilot!

After watching PUMA head out for a practice, I went in to Fort Adams with the boat to offload all the extra stuff. By now the breeze was a solid 20 knots. After unloading, I headed off the dock and I was able to hand a bow line off to a passing power boat to hook up to a mooring ball.

After the skipper’s meeting we went out in a crash boat bring OGOC back to the dock. During the afternoon the wind has steadily picked up – too much for the crash boat to safely bring OGOC back to the dock. For now OGOC is out on that other mooring ball, and possibly for the night if the wind doesn’t calm down!

Weather and gulf stream briefing was most interesting. The gulf stream was completely different from the information that Christian Reimer (on the mini Frogger) & I had worked up earlier in the week. I would do more homework but I can’t get back to the boat until the harbourmaster tows me in at 1930 (7:30pm) tonight when the breeze is expected to drop.

Gotta find food, laundry and a shower. 😉

Thursday June 2, 2011

It’s getting down to the wire for tomorrow’s start. It’s a bright, sun filled day here in Newport. Some final sail handling checks this morning. I’ll put the on. The transponder for tracking the fleet through the race is on the boat, but not yet activated.

The skipper’s meeting is at 2pm and includes a weather briefing. In the past two days, the gulf stream has changed dramatically. It is now very close to shore, rather than it’s usual position. Expect the weather and stream briefing will be very interesting! The organizing committee has a five page that helps to explain the complexity of the stream and the roll it plays in the race.

Following the skipper’s meeting: a massive offloading of unnecessary gear to the truck. Cushions, spare sails, extra clothing… the works.

June 1, 2011

Two more sleeps.  Today was a great day of doing homework.  Gulf stream got reviewed, weather and currents as well as the Skipper’s check in and the charts.  A few more tasks to do tomorrow and some sailing and we’ll be good to go!  I’m really tired….sorry for the short post 🙂

Diane