Aurora, USA 50095
Cameraman Billy Black holds on, Photo by Alden Winder
M2H Log
11 Jul 2011Alden Bentley
07/11/11, 2200 GMT
We just reached 15.6 kts of boat speed to cheers all around. Olympic sailing silver medalist Steve Benjamin was steering us like a large dingy, surfing Aurora’s 66 feet down the 5-foot rollers catching us from behind. It looks like we’ll break the boat’s record for Marblehead-Halifax, a race it has entered many times since it was launched in 1994 as Exile. But our competitors are close as courses converge 36 nm away from sea buoy Hb, the turning point into Halifax Harbor for a 10 nm leg to the finish. We have some crucial tactical decisions to make now before we make the turn in about three hours.
It looks likely to be a dead run into Halifax, meaning a lot of jibes. Being able to sail deep down wind gives us an advantage over our closest competitors, who must sail wider angles because of their bowsprits and asymetrical spinnakers. Still, Bella Pita and Valkyrie look to be well ahead of us on corrected time. They are each more than 10 feet longer than Aurora. On the long broad reach since we set out eastward from Marblehead, its been a waterline race, where boat length is a determining factor. As a rule longer boats with taller rigs to catch more wind aloft go faster than smaller boats.
Beatrice Witzgall, John Winder, Steve Benjamin, Photo by Alden Winder
The fog lifted late afternoon to bright sunshine and a wind building to 20 kts. It’s been an awesome ride for everyone — imagine a 300-mile spinnaker reach. There has been some fun job rotation on deck where specialists like me or bow woman Beatrice Witzgall got a chance to trim spinnaker and the main sail. Of course it’s an honor to sail on Aurora and very cool to trim the main for Gary and Benji, even if they tell you you are doing it all wrong (which they don’t often.) Some funny story telling and needling all afternoon was good for team building. Beatrice, being the only female (and German national) crewmember held her own even as the 17 guys on the boat had some light fun at her expense. I don’t envy her, but do admire her sailing ability and fun nature. Very helpful ideas-wise too, for the blog, meal prep and other subjects of importance to me, the crew and Thomson Reuters audience.
– Alden Bentley, Reuters
11 Jul 2011Alden Bentley
Aurora, 50095
Steve Benjamin drives Aurora fast in the fog
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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Blogging, with navigator Devin Santa, Photo by Alden Winder
Aurora, USA 50095
11 Jul 2011Alden Bentley
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 after the M2H start
Aurora, USA 50095
10 Jul 2011Alden Bentley
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.
The parade: Bella Pita, Valkyrie from Aurora
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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