042908 - 12:58pm EDT PERFECT EXAMPLE OF YUCATAN CURRENT

[SailBRacer]

Nobility Summary report, just one example of how bad this current can be, especially with no wind

These are the last reports on the boat, the blue is most recent 57.5 nm from finish
The bottom red lines are earlier positions, he was 51.7 from the finish
next red one shows him 49.8nm to finish, then the boat starts turning to the N then NNE and he
keeps getting further away from the finish, boat speed is 2.5kn, which probably represents current speed, sitting with no air, this is called being locked in the jaws of hell, all you can do is pray for wind, it is completely out of your hands.

04/29 00:14:23 21.82 N 85.92 W 2.0 kts N 2.5 kts NNE 1014.5 mb 57.5 nm
04/28 23:11:48 21.79 N 85.91 W 2.2 kts NNE 2.5 kts NNE 1014.5 mb 56.6 nm
04/28 22:07:27 21.75 N 85.92 W 2.3 kts NNE 2.5 kts NNE 1014.5 mb 54.9 nm
04/28 21:14:20 21.72 N 85.93 W 3.0 kts NNE 53.4 nm
04/28 20:13:54 21.67 N 85.95 W 2.2 kts NNE 51.3 nm
04/28 19:13:43 21.63 N 85.95 W 1.7 kts N 1.4 kts S 1014.6 mb 50.1 nm
04/28 18:15:19 21.61 N 85.94 W 1.7 kts W 49.8 nm
04/28 17:05:29 21.61 N 85.91 W 2.6 kts WSW 51.7 nm

If you look at most of the other boats around him, they are all doing the same, drifting in the current.
Turn on the tracking on most of the boats and you will see a hard right turn heading NNW back to the RL.

This is a perfect example of Yucatan Current 101, mark it in your memory banks should you ever do this race

See Ya.....................Phil

[jlaw]

but if you look at Whitewing, she seems to be overtaking others at 3.3 kts

[SailBRacer]

042908 0158A

I saw that, here are her latest positions and speed:

04/29 01:03:37 21.69 N 85.98 W 3.3 kts WSW 50.1 nm
04/29 00:15:24 21.71 N 85.94 W 3.0 kts WSW 1.7 kts NNE 1014.6 mb 52.7 nm
04/28 23:12:51 21.74 N 85.90 W 2.9 kts WSW 2.5 kts NNE 1014.5 mb 55.9 nm
04/28 22:12:42 21.77 N 85.86 W 3.2 kts WSW 2.5 kts NNE 1014.5 mb 58.7 nm
04/28 21:11:19 21.80 N 85.81 W 3.4 kts WSW 61.9 nm
04/28 20:04:36 21.83 N 85.75 W 3.0 kts WSW 1.2 kts NNE 1014.0 mb 65.7 nm
04/28 19:03:42 21.85 N 85.70 W 3.5 kts WSW 2.7 kts SW 1014.7 mb 68.7 nm
04/28 18:17:46 21.87 N 85.66 W 3.1 kts W 4.7 kts SSW 1014.3 mb 71.4 nm

She seems to be moving right along at 3 - 3.5 kn, my only guess is that they ran out of beer and MAYBE motoring, lol It is hard to sail 3k with 1.7k of wind against a curent
They still have 2 other boats that haven't finished, XTC has already won 1st, they are in, they may all 3 turn on the motors. It would be a good chance to win 2nd place for one of the 3 if they can hang on and outlast the others.

I also noticed Mischief Spin B, doing 5k straight to the finish, they MAYBE motoring as well
It appears all of the Spin B boats have finished, so sitting out there with no wind really is insane if you can't place or win


See Ya........................PHIL (I only said MAYBE turned on the motor )

[jlaw]

as I said before, I am a novice but thought the only way you could be beating the wind is with a really good current or with engine assist? (and she seems to be cutting straight through almost all the others as they turn north)

[SailBRacer]

Your observations are correct, and most likely they have decided to get to the party early

If Dennis V is on the boat, as I had heard from Herman earlier, I doubt that he would allow them to quit though, he is hard core

Possibly he isn't on the boat that would be the only way to explain it. Or maybe he is just getting too old to care anymore, right Dennis


See Ya..............Phil