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Race Report Flash Flushed? We've been running quite a few race reports of late, and that's okay because its interesting as hell. This report comes from the shore team of the T/P 52 Flash on their Vic Maui race. Things have taken a turn for the worse since their last report. - Ed
With Flash making the commitment to pay their dues now rather than at the end of the race, they only sailed 20nm towards the mark. Most of their distance was used up by diving S to get into the wind that Cassie & Renegade are in. Tactically, what they did is a good and proactive choice, as opposed to a "wait & see" approach that the fleet to the N will have to face. Cassie & Renegade are still sailing the same courses they started out with once they had past Cape Flattery. The courses were very deep when compared to Flash who was sailing hot & heavy up N for 6 days of the race. There is more to come as the race is not 1/2 over yet & lots of things that are weather related can seesaw the standing....just like we witnessed over the last 36 hours!!! The sailing conditions when I talked to the boyz were looking promising as they are getting into more breeze as they head S. Soon Flash will have to turn the corner & head W to engage in the drag race w/ the 70's. Present guestimates of arriving at Maui with this weather pattern & its resultant winds show 11 days now. Pray the wind Gods wake up soon! :-) Tactically it was a tough but good call to commit to head S NOW versus having it to do later. For sure the Trades are forming to the S, but the High to the N was full of light winds transition zones that really didn't change into better wind conditions. More importantly, the High on the N side was always a lifting breeze which if you followed would take you away from Maui, especially when wind is light. Basically it's always easiest to come up to the mark in light winds rather than to dive down on it. Again the changing position of the High will determine if the 70's are on track for the drag race or whether they feel they need to gybe S like Flash. In looking at the lastest Surface Analysis the High is forecasted to move more S & to spread E & W bringing w/ it a lot of light winds. Light winds means gybing & sailing hotter angles to get to Maui. If I'm right this will be an advantage to Flash & enable them to reel the 70's back in. The remaining fleet is very far N & it will be interesting to see if they are able to avoid the HIGH & a parking lot. Their only saving grace would be if a NW wind fills from behind them as there is nothing in front of them. Today's Details - Lat
- 30-16 (33-36 yesterday) |