Aurora, 50095

M2H Log

07/11/11, 1509 GMT

As predicted the fog has arrived off Nova Scotia. We passed Cape Sable at 1000 EDT (1400 GMT) in visual distance of Cape Sable Lighthouse. After passing Brazil Rock (A navigational hazard 6 feet below the surface at low tide) at 1040,  we eased out the sails, doused the Code Zero and hoisted the A3 spinnaker to head down to a broad reach with spinny and stay sail carrying us along at 10 kts under a wind speed indicated at 16 kts, although there is much doubt about the accuracy of our instruments on that. Before the fog settled in like a cliche we could see the Canadian coast on the horizon about 4 miles away.

We tried a jibe to head in closer to shore to see if there was stronger wind and a better sailing angle. But Steve Benjamin, who was driving and calling tactical shots at the time did not like what we saw (nothing in fact, because of the fog.) We jibed back onto starboard tack, on which we have spend almost the entire race. It’s been a very fast sail, roughly 260 miles in 24 hours. With fewer than 100 nm to go, according to Devin’s calculations, we should finish not long after dark. But he warned, with the winds lifting us and requiring downwind VMG sailing (Velocity Made Good, which means finding the perfect balance between sailing fast and sailing the shortest distance to your destination) it will be a tough, foggy afternoon of racing.

– Alden Bentley, Reuters

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11 Jul 2011Alden Bentley

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Aurora, USA 50095

M2H Log

0401 GMT

Midnight  and we’re half way across the Gulf of Maine meaning half way to Cape Sable, the southern most tip of Nova Scotia. That’s about 1/3 through the race. I am starting my watch and sit clothed in foul weather gear and warm layers, although it does not feel too cool from below decks at least. The wind has come a little forward and the watch on deck just completed and other sail change to the 2A spinnaker and hoisted the stay sail. We are making 11 kts. Bella Pita is 6 nm ahead. The rest of our class is north of us or behind at the moment. A little bit groggy now and must go topside.

– Alden Bentley, Reuters

Aurora, USA 50095

M2H LOG

07/10/11, 1750 GMT

Our IRC divsion 1 with all the very big fast boats was the first to start at 1300 EST, 1700 GMT. We had good speed. Gary Jobson at the helm and speed doctor Steve Benjamin talking tactics next to him ensured we were where we wanted to be – nearest the committee boat on the west side of the starting line.  A heart stopping moment as we luffed up 78 foot Valkyrie half a boat length to windward to break an overlap and get room to round the first mark. I think Valkyrie were pretty shocked at our nerve. Breeze was about 10 kts per hour at 190 degrees, or ssw. In order to provide lots of room and viewing opportunity for spectator boats, Race Commttee made the fleet do a dog leg right after the start with two very short 1.5 kt legs close to the Massachusetts shore before sending us into the open ocean.



We are now headed on a compass course of about 93 degrees, almost dead east to cross the Gulf of Maine toward Nova Scotia. Halifax is 36o nm away.  It looks like a very tight reach into Sunday night, early Monday. We are sailing almost close hauled, so for now we can’t carry a spinnaker.  The wind picked to 14 kts, which brings the apparent wind (the effect of a boat’s self generated headwind on the true wind direction) that sails are trimmed to even further forward. We are making a comfortable 11.9 kts through the water. But the wind is expected to lighten and shift right a bit later in the afternoon which may allow a spinnaker. Breeze should pick up again tonight and build through Monday.

As always we must make a decision: Do we stay close the rhumb line or seek out better wind and spinnaker angle and hope for advantage that way.  Bella Pita, a Tripp 75, and Valkyrie a Swan 78 are right in front of us at the moment. Its a long race and its not likely we’ll have visual on our competitors for for the whole distance.

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09 Jul 2011Alden Bentley

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Aurora, USA 50095

A2N Log

Wednesday. A2N race committee reports all 70 boats have now finished or run out of time due to light air. Our final place on corrected time in our IRC I class was 11 of 12 – disappointing.  In overall IRC standings we were a quite respectable 15th out of 40 boats. No fault can be found in the way Aurora was sailed and tactically it was a crap shoot for much of the race.  I asked Gus, Gary, John and Devin for a post-mortem analysis and here is my interpretation:

The light air was bad news for an older (1994) relatively overbuilt sailboat like Aurora, which competes well in strong wind. “We knew going in the conditions were not going to favor us ,” said Gus. “Considering that we are a much heavier boat and therefore not as good in light air as some of new lighter boats, we sailed a very good race, a very smart race and the crew work was fantastic.”

Long periods of dead air created a parking-lot effect in which boats that seemed to be ahead were caught by boats sailing up from behind.  Relative positions for much of the fleet were reshuffled more than once. With no compelling wind scenario presenting itself, and shifts forecast from nearly all points on compass dial, we opted for a conservative route near the rhumb line and approached the finish from the west side of Block Island, where there was a slightly more favorable current.  A2N RC posited that the wind velocity might have been just enough stronger east of BI early Monday to overcome our current advantage. 

Given that we kept the boat moving well and took no big risks tactically, our back-of-the-pack corrected time raised questions about the ratings system and the IRC rules we were racing under.  As Gary put it: “The sail handling was flawless for an amateur crew. The down part of this all is that Aurora is a design whose time has gone by compared to much ligther boats that are out racing today.” He continued “When it’s very light downwind conditions like we had  for many parts of this race, the light boats will sail away, which tells me that the handicap ratings system aren’t adjusted properly for different types of boat forms.”  From Devin: “We sailed the boat as well as we could given the wind conditions and competition. The boats that we were sailing against were all very well sailed and optimized for the rule that we were racing under.”

Participating in such a well-oiled program, with a mix of world-class ocean racers and talented young sailors, including an 18 year old, was a unique journalism experience, not to mention a chance to do my first true blue water ocean race. I learned from the best, including how to prepare dinner for 20 on a gimballed stove without catching the boat on fire. “Given the complexity of course, with two or three races in one, that new crew really pulled together, ” said program coordinator and watch captain John Winder, whose son Alden was one of the college-age crew.  This highly competive group of sailors is used to performing at an elite level, winning races and not making excuses. Still, all felt it was a great race for the boat handling, navigation, camaraderie and of course for showcasing Thomson Reuters as a high-performing brand in a high performance sport. “On the water, with the brand on the mainsail and spinnaker, everyone knows we’re the Thomson Reuters boat,” said Gus.

Final results: http://www.race.annapolisyc.org/uploads/results/2011_Annapolis_to_Newport_Race-2011/2011_A2N_race1.html

Aurora, USA 50095

A2N Log

06/06/11, 1249 GMT

Monday, 9:08 a.m. We finished, with high fives and hand shakes all around, at 8:49:06 a.m. Total elapsed time I think is 67 hours, 50 minutes. The wind went very light from the west inside Block Island sound, then filled in to 8-10 kts seemingly from the land effect as we entered Narragansett Bay. We crossed the line close hauled on starboard tack with a handsome 10 kts of boat speed. As Ron Weiss said just before we finished “I can’t decide which I want more, coffee or a beer.” More later. Thanks for following along …

Aurora, USA 50095

A2N Log

06/06/11, 0819 GMT

Monday 4:19 a.m.  Well it looks like I won’t be the winner of the pool, with my call for finishing by 0300. We’re just a little southwest of Block Island, which is in view, roughly between Block and Montauk, the easternmost tip of Long Island. Aurora is ghosting along on a spinnaker reach making around 5 kts, in 6 kts of breeze which had veered to out of the west around 2 a.m. Block Island Sound looks like glass. Basically we are in sight of the finish in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay off Newport’s Castle Hill Light and hope to cross around 8.a.m.  Our competitive situation is not looking too good as we converge on  with boats we needed to finish a couple of hours ahead of to beat the handicap. Still its a beautiful morning, with sunrise over Block Island and after 460 miles, we’ll be on dry land soon. Everyone could use a good wash up … and a celebratory beer.

A2N Log

06/05/11, 1800 GMT

Sunday, 2:00 p.m. We are about 100 miles from Block Island making good time now as before, but expecting the wind to go very light, hopefully after we get inside Block Island Sound before Newport. This is a good time to share some anecdotes from the last two days aboard Aurora. 1)Ellen Quinn, the “bowman” and only female on board, had to be hoisted up the 88-foot mast in the dark of night to clear some halyards which were crossed at the top of the spar from numerous sail changes. “We debated waiting until daylight and we got concerned at the remote chance there was actual chafing involved, in addition to our limited halyard availability. We ultimately decided to go up around 3 a.m. There was no chafing but we were able to fix and free up all the halyards,” She said;  2) Meanwhile, that same night a pod of dolphins followed us for a while during the late watch, but seemed to lose interest with our slow progress during a spell of light wind and swam off; 3) Gary ran a game of sailing trivia, in which I got gave a correct answer: Nathaniel Herreshoff; 4) My favorite anecdote so far: Me enjoying the privilege of trimming the mainsail for a couple of hours for several helmsmen, Ron Weiss, Lucas Marrero and (pinch me) Gary Jobson …

Aurora, USA 50095

A2N Log

06/05/11, 1430 GMT

Sunday, 10:30 a.m.  It is very frustrating without ability to transmit the A-Log to shore. Dear readers: We did not sail off the edge of the world. Thanks for your patience. You will get a bunch of updates all at once, eventually. We are currently trucking through increasing swell in 14 kts of southeast wind. Boat speed 10-12 kts and Aurora feels happy. Not too rough a ride, but getting wetter. In fact, I just had to empty about a cup of seawater from each of my deck boots, having helped crewmate Steve Minninger secure the unused port spinnaker halyard to lift the foot of Aurora’s medium No. 1 genoa out of the water to prevent drag and sail damage. That task required hanging on to the leeward shrouds at an acute heel just forward of the mast where Steve and I both got slammed by several waves rolling down from the bow. It’s all part of the sport of yacht racing, where every task is important and moves are rarely wasted … anyway, mission accomplished. After about 10 minutes it was back to the windward rail with eight or 10 crew to keep weight on the high side and reduce heel …