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Team Dinghy Shop | [Print] [Close] |
05/11/2001 - Leg 6: cat-alist.com following Team Dinghy Shop
The local dealer has now run out of rudder castings. Today, is a very long day, at over 100 nautical miles as we leave Florida. To make matters worse, the wind forecast for the morning is not good. It is light and the ocean looks very calm. 10:35 AM: the AP just went down (postponement flag is down), 10 minutes to the start.
Leg 6 PM - Jacksonville Beach, FL to Tybee Island, GA - 121.3 statute miles.
Estimated arrival time is 6 to 8 PM.
Leg 6 Results - shows results for the day and overall.
The local dealer has now run out of rudder castings. Today, is a very long day, at over 100 nautical miles as we leave Florida. To make matters worse, the wind forecast for the morning is not good. It is light and the ocean looks very calm. 10:35 AM: the AP just went down (postponement flag is down), 10 minutes to the start.
Day 6 PM - Jacksonville Beach, FL to Tybee Island, GA - 121.3 statute miles.
Estimated arrival time is 6 to 8 PM.
10:50 AM, Mike Walker:
"We made it thru the surf ok, Kevin did alot of pushing."
"Team Fully Involved broke a rudder, looks like they broke a spinnaker pole bridle wire."
"Team Castrol made it out the first time this time."
"We've gone through maybe 20 rudder castings, not quite as many rudders, I know we've probably sold 5. We've sold one mast, but 7 or 8 have been broken I think. Lots of broken spirits. Breaking the bank! We've had very unusual conditions for here, it is not supposed to be like this until the Carolinas."
"I'm gonna watch someone break a casting right now, they're gonna break a rudder casting right now. They're doing the same thing. That is Team Fully Involved. It is pretty flat right now, they should just turn down and go, just sail. They're over the break, oh, one more, they're at the last one, then they're out. They 're gonna make it out, no, there's one more coming, there they go...."
"They're going the wrong way now, going down the beach backwards, They were further out 30 seconds ago than they are now, keep getting pushed backwards."
"They just broke a casting! change that total to 6 now, that is two for them today, on the same boat. Now they are going to dump, now they are okay. Gotta go!"
Chris's message to the sailors: "Good luck, don't break stuff, sail safe and fast."
Chris's message to all those watching: "Wish you were here, having a blast!"
Mike Walker: It is blowing 3 to 4 knots. we're setup to go on starboard tack off the beach.
10:35 AM: the AP just went down (postponement flag is down), 10 minutes to the start.
This is one of the few legs that allows the shore crews to watch the team work its way up the coast, as we travel A1A northward. At times we saw them in 9th place, at times, they where as high at 5th place. At St. Augustine, the shore crewed climbed the St. Augustine lighthouse and we could watch them round the shoals that are marked by this lighthouse. The view was amazing, as we could see for many miles in each direction. We also watched the first ten teams navigate this water hazard.
We moved northward and met the team at Checkpoint 5, as they pulled in at 7th place. We still remain in 3rd overall, but we have lost ground to both Team Alexander and Fully Involved.
Today, is a very long day, at over 100 nautical miles as we leave Florida. To make matters worse, the wind forecast for the morning is not good. It is light and the ocean looks very calm.
There is a very big high pressure area to our east. There is hope that the wind will increase in the afternoon. But, this may mean that the team arrives after dark.
It now gets more difficult for me to get online and to get you updates by the end of the day. The phone line connections get worse and the days get longer. After today, the next 2 legs are night legs, as they navigate the dark through fishing boats and other obstructions.
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