2015 NASS Spring Race Saturday April 18th

I hope you're enjoying the cold weather.  This sucks!  I'm ready to get back out on water. The first race of the season is the NASS Spring Race, which is on Saturday April 18th

http://nass.sailregattas.com/_/nass/ui/Index.aspx

The boat should be back in the water the first week of April, so this will be the shake down race to get all the bugs worked out.

Can't wait to see you there!

Annapolis to Newport 2015

Just signed up for the Annapolis to Newport Race 2015 - Ready for warm weather

The Class 2 Start of the 2014 Newport to Bermuda Race

Class 2 had a very colorful downwind start.  Schematic is the boat with the solid yellow spinnaker and sail number 50787.

Click on the links to view the photos. 

http://bermudarace.com/wp-content/gallery/bermuda-race-start-2014/34558.JPG

 http://bermudarace.com/wp-content/gallery/bermuda-race-start-2014/34554.JPG

http://bermudarace.com/wp-content/gallery/bermuda-race-start-2014/34550.JPG

Schematic Completes the 2014 Newport to Bermuda Race

After sailing about 1800 miles, Schematic is back in her slip in Annapolis.  She went from Annapolis to Newport, RI, did the Newport to Bermuda Race then sailed back to Annapolis safely ahead of Hurricane Arthur.

The 2014 Newport to Bermuda Race was a tough and grueling one with light winds and foul current. We went too far East trying to take advantage of a warm eddy, but got caught with no wind, then could not get far enough west and fought 4 knots of Gulf Stream Current that was going North.  We fought back in light air and found some favorable current to get to the front of our Class, but then went too far west and wound up in the middle. We took 9 (out of 15) in Class and 18 (out of 96) in Fleet - a respectable finish given the tough conditions.

We had some set backs too; Wally our Navigator got very sick on the delivery up and could not race.  Our electronics were marginal at best.  We did not have all the full range of instruments available in the cockpit, there were conflicts with new equipment installed and The Expedition navigation software was not intuitive and a real challenge - it was a real headache.  Chris Burd our rock star bow man was injured - fortunately not seriously. This trip saw more use of the first aid kit than any race that I can remember. Stomach pain, muscle bruises, and bacterial eye infection.

The crew was awesome - On short notice we replaced Wally with Tripp Burd - Chris's brother; he blended well with the rest of the crew and did an excellent job on the bow and trimming sails - he had the best hat. Chris, never missed a beat,  switched to the back of the boat and was awesome driving in light air. Brad Cole stepped up and helped in Wally's absence and contributed to the brain trust in the aft guard and did a great job with much of the boat prep. Greg Leinweber did an amazing job on sail trim and keeping the bow of the boat in ready for action. Warren Dahlstrom and David Banks did an amazing job with the food - we ate like kings. David also gets bonus points for taking care of the first aid kit and keeping all healthy and in action. Conner Fox did an outstanding job scrambling for lines, sails and taking most of the photographs.

The boat did an excellent job - I don't think it could have been in better shape  - nothing was left to chance - nothing was lost or broken - a rare occurrence when racing offshore.It moved well in the light air

We had a great time. It was a lot of work and there are a lot of great stories to tell.

Results:
Schematic was in The St. Davids Lighthouse Division; Class2 
2014 Newport to Bermuda Race Results  

Final Race Analysis and Summary

Photos:
2014 Newport to Bermuda Race - Schematic Photos1

2014 Newport to Bermuda Race - Schematic Photos2

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Bermuda

Return Trip Photos

Videos:
Schematic YouTube Channel

Newport to Bermuda Race Tracker

Below is the link for the race tracker which is now live and will show exactly where the boat is. Click on the link and search for Schematic. 

The Race starts on Friday June 20th and we should cross the finish line on Tuesday Evening or Wednesday Morning.

http://www.pantaenius.us/en/american-yacht-insurance/newport-bermuda-race/live-race-tracking?adid=2137

Schematic Delivered to Newport

Schematic is now in Newport in preparation for the Newport to Bermuda Race which starts Friday June 20th.

Here are some interesting shots from the delivery.
Motoring through the C&D Canal at night with some fog.

 Some beautiful fog - On the Delaware Bay

A beautiful afternoon sky looking across the ocean to New Jersey

Some shipping traffic

On the mooring in Jamestown, RI

Schematic Mentioned in Spin Sheet Magazine

Spin Sheet Magazine discusses sailing Schematic to Bermuda in the current issue. The Article is focused on boats from Annapolis sailing to Bermuda this Summer.  I discuss the preparation involved and the importance of having a great crew.

http://spinsheet.com/n2b/

A couple of corrections : I did my first Bermuda Race in 2008 and this will be my 3rd time sailing Schematic to Bermuda

Its on page 77 of the magazine.

Bermuda Race Update and Status Report - 14 days to go

There is still some work being done on the boat - Its close, but lots of little stuff - A big thanks to Brad for dealing with a few of these contractors.

Right now the following remains outstanding:

• new running rigging, including upgrading the preventer, section of life line replaced,
• auto pilot arm connection re done.
• Re-beding hardware to try and fix a small annoying leak over the Nav station
• replacing the burner for the oven.
• Installing the 16" flat screen
• getting the new GPS set up and operational - this is very cool - we will have wireless - for those of you with iPads we will be able to navigate using the iPad in the cockpit - go to the app store and download Simrad GoFree
• Engine maintenance and parts replacement to make sure everything works.
• Sails being looked at, upgraded and the main reinstalled.
• Short haul on Thursday to clean the bottom.

All of that is currently in progress and hopefully (fingers crossed) will be complete by Friday - the main will be installed next week.

Wally and I are collecting Gulf Stream data - He and I are meeting with Mike on Friday 6/6 at 3 to go over the Navigation software and Equipment set up.

Our race entry is complete and has been accepted by the race committee.  Thanks for the scramble on Monday to get the Waivers complete - we turned it around very quickly - I think we avoided the time penalty. Thanks to Wally for dealing with the inspector.

If you have any gear for the race that needs to be stowed on the boat - That should be on board by this Saturday. Please keep your gear to a minimum - you get one bag that fits in the overhead compartment and its $25 a bag to check any additional luggage. ;)

I'm out of town Sunday through Wednesday and we are leaving Thursday 6/12 in the afternoon to deliver the boat to Newport (Jamestown)
The boat needs to be race ready and prepared to leave on Saturday.

Holly and I will be talking about food for the Delivery and get non perishables stowed on Saturday - the perishables will go on Thursday afternoon.

Thanks to Warren and David for getting the meal plan together and other non perishables for the race stowed on Saturday. I'm assuming that the race Perishables are being bought in Newport or FedExed to Newport Yachting Center.

Thanks to David for assembling the First Aid kit - please do us all a favor and if you have any health issues or prescription medication make sure that David has a heads up. Brad and David are our two trained first-aid professionals.

The boat will be in Newport by Noon on Thursday at the Newport Yachting Center  -

Please bring your passport and return ticket so we can go through customs and immigration on Thursday afternoon.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN NEWPORT BY 2 PM ON THURSDAY PLEASE GET ME YOUR PASSPORT AND AIRLINE TICKET BY SATURDAY!!!

Form or Document(s) Required Completed and signed

(Forms will be available in Newport prior to departure.)

• Bermuda Customs Clearance-vessel, one double sided form per boat (completed in triplicate)
• Declaration of Health (one double-sided form per boat)
• Customs Traveler Declaration (White w/ blue lettering)
• Bermuda Department of Immigration Passenger Arrival Form (Pink) – page 2 stamped by Immigration
• A valid airline ticket for all crew flying out of Bermuda or evidence that such a ticket is waiting at Bermuda. E-tickets are acceptable BUT documentary proof of ticket MUST be shown, i.e. printout showing Locator ID and confirmation of flight itinerary.

- See more at: http://bermudarace.com/resources/bermuda-logistics/bermuda-customs-and-immigration/#sthash.9JgJIWcu.dpuf

Return delivery Crew please make sure that you have your letter to get into Bermuda.

After we are all signed up and through Bermuda Immigration (still in Newport)  we will meet for dinner - the agenda will be to review and discuss safety, watches, assignments, anticipated weather, our race strategy, operating procedures and enjoy some grog.

If you have any questions please email or call. 202-236-6115.

Thanks I'm looking forward to sailing with you.

Bob

The Gulf Stream and Navigating to Bermuda

The Race to Bermuda is all about the Gulf Stream - on this chart the red is showing 3 knots of current. Newport is located at the top of the chart, just to the right of the center, Bermuda at 32.24 North Latitude and 64.39 West Longitude and is located along the right just below the middle of the chart. Looks like some favorable current that curves toward Bemuda is just south of the rhumb line. This band of current is moving slowly to the Northeast. 

Down The Bay Race Review

The 2014 Down the Bay Race experienced a very broad range of conditions from the frustrating - caught with no wind while watching boats that we passed catch up to us as the new breeze filled in from behind us; to a scary wave round up and crash gybe in 35 knots. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and we recovered quickly. Peter Dahlstrom caught the downwind start on video.  Still waiting for the results.

Track us Down the Bay on Ship Finder

You can follow us during the Down The Bay Race and possibly some of the competition you can go to Ship Finder   There is a free app in the Apple App Store too that can be downloaded. To find us just click on Map Options on the top right and then "Search" and type in Schematic.

The app will only work when the boat's electronics are on and when we are within range of a land based VHF signal - (20 miles off the coast)  it will not work offshore.

Robbie Doyle on the Bermuda Race: Strategy, Sails, and Crew Care

This is a great read from an interview with Robbie Doyle on preparation for the Newport Bermuda Race.

Down the Bay Race Friday May 23rd

This is the longest distance race on the Bay - 122 miles from Annapolis to Hampton

The party starts at 1800 on Thursday May 22nd and the race starts at 1000 on Friday morning May 23.  Under average conditions the race should take about 20 hours.

The plan is to meet at the boat at 0800 on Friday morning.  We will turn around once we cross the finish line and on the way home perform the required safety drills for the Bermuda Race.

All the race information is located here http://www.hamptonyc.com/downthebay/

Saturday May 10th - Work Day & Safety Drills

Saturday May 10th at 1000

Safety drills and minor repairs & upgrades (noted on Inspection Report), remove necessary gear and start to stow race gear, and clean things up in preparation for the race. 

Required safety drills include the following:
Man Overboard
Dismasting
Life Raft/Life Jackets
Flares
StormTrysail
Rudder/Steering Loss
Communications
EPIRB
Abandon Ship
Fire Fighting
Preventer Rigging

80% of the crew is required to participate (that's 6 guys)

Bermuda Race Inspection Results

Schematic is in great shape for Bermuda - Bill Kardash inspected the boat on Thursday May 1st. We spent almost three hours going through an exhaustive 18 page check list of boat construction and equipment necessary to go off shore.

The only items where we were found to be deficient were the following:
Crew life jackets and harnesses - they just were not on the boat
Marking of safety gear - the boats name and reflective tape needs to be on all safety gear
Emergency drinking water - water was not in separate containers.
Training drills have not been completed.

Some other small suggestions included putting strings on the wood pins at the the through hulls. getting a drift set punch on board, mark the jib car positions w/ reflective tape, and having the lee cloths with sail numbers onboard.

Some work to be done include: bungees with hooks up forward to hold the head sails on deck, foredeck light needs to be repaired, and Nav station upgrades are being made. Brad was going to verify that the reef points would be secure with Quantum sails.

Man Overboard - shit happens

This is a little scary and shows how the best trained crew can still be caught off guard. This guy is lucky to have been found, rescued and survived. Its a reminder that we can never let our guard down and get too comfortable and assume that we are safe.

Its a wake up call and should serve to remind us that safety is a high priority.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152170945863127&set=vb.122062903126&type=3&theater

Schematic takes 4th in AYC Overnight

Schematic had a great sail down the Bay on Saturday - sailing a close reach in 15knot winds to be the first boat to the turning mark that was 50 miles down the Bay. The race started at 1115 and we rounded the mark at 1854 to beat back up the bay. We had about 5 head sail changes - steering was tough as we were frequently in chop and some rough conditoins. We went from full main and the Genoa to the #3 headsail and a reefed main. The crew was awesome and put in a great effort. We took 4th place in the end - all the boats were very close.

some pics are on my fb page. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203463527045782&set=pcb.10203463565006731&type=1&theater

AYC Overnight Race - April 26 & 27

The AYC Overnight Race is Saturday and Sunday April 26 & 27. The First Signal is at 1100.

We leave the Dock at 0930.

Here is the link to the NOR and  SI's - This race will be down the bay to a mark and back and should be 24 to 30 hours long.

Here is the link to the race  http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/8173

NASS Spring Race

The first race of the season is Saturday April 12th! The plan is to meet at the dock at 0800 - there is a ton of work to do to get things in shape.

The first gun is 1100

Schematic back in the water

Schematic was launched on Friday, but dead batteries from an exceptionally cold winter prevented getting out for the first sail. Finally after a few beers we got the engine started an moved the boat to Mears