Daily Report - July 10 - Return of the High

by Race Committee, July 10th, 2014

As predicted, the fleet has sailed out of the strong northerly wind pattern as the Pacific High expands towards them. Wind speeds have dropped to the low teens and boat speeds have started to ease. Right now the decision get tough.

Led by JAM and Kahuna, half of the boats have taken port gybe hitches to get to the left side of the course and try to hold the wind longer, or even sail around the high. Showing a divergence of strategy, String Theory, Turicum, Passepartout and Turnagain have turned toward the rhumb-line, perhaps trying to make a short, painful crossing of the high – an interesting move.

That leaves Longboard who have steadily sailed the middle ground maintaining boat speed and eating up miles. They should reach their Half-Way point tomorrow and now have a 75 mile lead in front of next place New Haven. 

The very volatile Leaderboard now shows Peter Salusbury’s Longboard leading in both Line Honours and corrected time, followed by John Kerrigan’s New Haven and Colin Jackson/Eberhart Heinzemann’s Alegria X.

Many time Vic-Maui winning navigation Brad Baker has spoken again, this time on the personalities that develop aboard, and what decisions are facing navigators and skippers.  Follow the link to Brad’s story in Northwest Yachting.

http://www.nwyachting.com/2014/07/vic-maui-update-2-the-beds-are-made/

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