by sitesALIVE! | Dec 12, 2016 | Ship's Logs
Ever wonder what the chart table looks like, on an Open 60, that is racing in the Vendée Globe? Skipper Rich Wilson gives you a tour of some of the instruments that are critical for his navigation, communication, and maneuvering, while sailing around the world....
by Rich Wilson | Dec 11, 2016 | Ship's Logs
Last night I went for a nap on a cloudless 2/3 moon night with a starry sky. 30 minutes later I was awakened by the boat laboring, with another mini front with 35-40 knots of wind in it. I was able to just get the fractional gennaker rolled up with seconds to spare...
by Rich Wilson | Dec 10, 2016 | Ship's Logs
Last evening we had a Skype Video with my friends in the Finn Class of France. The Finn is an Olympic class boat, and especially difficult and physical to sail. My friend Christophe Jean sails one and is a member, and during our project development through the years,...
by Rich Wilson | Dec 9, 2016 | Ship's Logs
Last night the next front came through, about 3-4 hours earlier than forecast. I was taking a nap, and suddenly the boat started pounding – crash crash – crash – as if going upwind, or at least into the waves, which we were. The wind had shifted with the front by 100...
by Rich Wilson | Dec 8, 2016 | Ship's Logs
Last night, with 25-30 knots of wind, we went down to the staysail and mainsail with 3 reefs. Into the dark night, the wind increased, until we had a steady 35-38 knots. Fortunately, we had the best sail combination up, our smallest sails essentially, before...
by Rich Wilson | Dec 7, 2016 | Ship's Logs
Another full day, and the days and nights run together in one long continuous cycle, so that sometimes its hard to remember what happened today and what happened yesterday. After yesterday’s near catastrophe with the fractional gennaker in the white squall, I...
