Leg 3: Race 4, 30 June

30th June 2009

Since starting this race we have been trying to get into the gulf stream, a long stream of water moving north, that should give us a boost on our way to Boston.

Throughout the night we kept a sharp look out on the surrounding vessels and the not too distance thunderclouds putting on an amasing light show for us, by morning however we had lost sight to all bar one competing vessel as the fleet had split up and over our horizon.

Since the start we have sailed with about as many sails as we could hoist, and by the morning we had hoisted the largest spinnaker, the full mainsail, the mizzen staysail and the mizzen, which is helping us to make great progress. We are leading the fleet, and on corrected time we lead our class (D) and currently hold second place overall, an position the crew are eager to keep hold of.

Nova watch were on mother today, and served a unique spicy noodle dish for lunch and we await there chocolate brownies for happy hour and the first votes for the Oscar T-Shirt for this race.

Lou's (WO Pipe Watch) dreams came true today when his continual perseverance with fishing lines paid off dividends with his latest hard core setup reeling in a Mahi-Mahi of the size required for a crew dinner. We look forward to how Nova prepares that later.

Edward Bennett, Crew, Pipe Watch

Leg 3: Race 4 Start

29 June 2045

After a morning of preparations we left the harbour for a great crew parade, loads of vessels came out to join us, but as with the weather of the last few days the clouds rolled in and most the spectator boats headed in before the start, with the weather getting worse the official start line was abandoned for crossing a latitude line of 32º43N, we have just passed this and are sailing on a good course under main, genoa, mizzen and mizzen staysail.

Pipe Watch has just surved a stunning curry, another of Lou secret recipes.
If you haven't worked out the watch names yet we have: Team America, Team Nova, and Pipe Watch.

If this has worked its the first update direct from sat phone to blog, and should allow alot more frequent updates.

Chris Nelson, Watch Officer, Team America.

Leg 3: 28 June

The Tall Ships Crew party was held at the hotel last night, it was a beach themed party with two bands scheduled to play and the prize ceremony for the crew games. This however was interrupted by a large thunder storm which had people running for cover, the food and drink was enjoyed by all, even with it being slightly water logged, despite this everyone had a very enjoyable night and spirits were high as we come to an end of our stay in Charleston. An early start saw the decks scrubbed and the hull inspected by divers before the crew prepared for a busy day.

We were invited to spend the day with a local family at their house and were treated to a large BBQ and we were able to relax, play football and attempt wakeboarding, something most people had never done. This was particularly special as 9 years ago the family hosted the 2000 race crew and wished to meet the latest crew members. A big thankyou to John and Margaret Carlisle for hosting us for the day, we all had a great time.

We then went for drinks on a boat in the marina that was once again hosted by a local couple who were friends of our liason officer. We met more local people who were very interested in the race and it was nice to relax more on board their boat. A celebratory dinner for winning the race class was held at Hot Wings American diner where platters of chicken wings, some mild some extremely spicy, left us feeling well fed and looking forward to a good nights sleep. It was a great way to finish an amazing day. We are now relaxing before we start racing again tomorrow bring on Boston!.

Leg 3: Race 1: 1st in Class

Well the provisional results were confirmed yesterday, and I received the trophy for Classes C/D yesterday along with Joel Falken-Smith, at 17 our youngest crew member. The crew celebrated in their usual enthusiastic way.

The race was run in fairly changeable conditions, with no consistent strength above 20 knots, although this was based on our estimates as we had no working wind strength or direction indicators for the whole race. As it happens the crew enjoyed the challenge and worked hard at sailing by the feel of the wind. The wind was on the nose for a lot of the trip, including the last 300 miles, but we had one superb downwind leg under spinnaker where we logged 260 miles in 24 hours. This was twice what we achieved any other day.

We had a great start well ahead of our competitors, but a frustrating finish with an ebbing tide and very light Westerly wind keeping us in sight of the finish line for several hours.

The crew worked really well together and we could not have achieved this result without them. They have worked hard, eaten well and played hard. This evening we have a crew party, and tomorrow we are invited to a house party by a woman who did the same for us in 2000. The hospitality here has been superb.

On Monday we start the race to Boston, and we have been getting everything checked over and ready. We like it here but will be glad to get to sea!

Bill Jermey

Leg 3: Race 1: Finish Line

We have done it! We have finally crossed the finish line at 02:17am local time, however the finish line was not crossed easily, the wind died down and the tide turned against us, the final five miles took three hours. The skipper however was not deterred and after much sail tweaking and several tacks we crossed the finish line with a cheer loud enough to wake the sleeping watches.

During the final three hours a large pod of dolphins swam along our bow, and later another pod escorted us into port.

Mooring proved much easier the clearing through customs, something that dragged on until at around 05:30am we finally got to sleep.

We woke to a late breakfast and then proceeded to clean Rona II from top to bottom. We hoisted flags and bunting to fit into the atmosphere of the Tall Ships race.

To conclude a week of hot and tiring sailing the crew finally got to shower, a very welcome luxury.

The whole crew are delighted to be first in class, after such a hard race (however this position is yet to be verified).

We are now looking forward to exploring Charleston.

Ed Bennett (crew)

Leg 3: Update 6

21st June at 2000hrs BST

Position is 32.48N,78.37W.

Only 49 miles to go, current position is 1st in class and 7th overall.

The "Oscar" was awarded to "Rear Admiral" Nelson who not only served up dinner 2 hours late but also tried to bribe the jury as well.

Today we had Dolphins swimming alongside to cheers from the crew.
There were louder cheers when the Skipper announced that fresh water showers would be allowed on the after deck.

All the crew send their best wishes to family and friends.

Leg 3: Update 5

20th June at 1600hrs local time

We are 150 miles from Charleston and sailing in good wind with a boat speed of just under 8 knots.
Crew moral is high as we are still 1st in class and moved up to 9th overall.
Meals are still good but let down by a late pizza yesterday.
Happy hour was the best yet with a team quiz to decide the "Oscar" of the day.
The night watch was uneventful with low winds but this gave the crew time to make matching anklets.
Target practise with the catapults continuing.

Best wishes Skipper and crew Rona 2.

Day 5, 19th June 2009

The end of day 4 saw the 3 o’clock happy hour votes named Team Americas watch leader Ali Findlay for the Oscar. Ali proved himself mentally inept at using a knife and within seconds of holding it he had cut his finger. Dinner last night, served by Phil and Dans red watch, saw the crew eating creamy mashed potato, spicy sausage, gravy and fresh bread with rice pudding for desert. This amazing end to a great day for meals then set the bar for Chris Nelsons Team America on the next day and so they set about what to cook. This proved to be great fun as time forgotten foods provided great ammunition for the three man catapult. All the crew were on deck to witness flying cucumbers and cabbages, however it was evident that practice desperately needed if we were to hit opposition boats later on. Night watch was fairly standard albeit with a distinct lack of wind.

At time of writing Team America is cooking Burger and Pasta salad for lunch after a quality omelette for breakfast. Boat speed is roughly 7 knots and we are (position) 1^st in class and 11^th overall. In the words of Bob Marley, “Sun is shining and the weather is easy” ... we can currently see the Spirit of Bermuda and are having a quick catch up over the handset as they are the first contact since day one.

This report was compiled by Team Americas Joel Falken-Smith

Leg 3: Update 4

18 June 2009

Morale is high with temperatures higher. White watch was on mother watch and produced fabulous food preparing a mixed buffet for lunch including curry meatballs with nann bread and pineapple and cherry cake for dessert.

The first proper happy hour made an appearance with punch and a singsong for Lou's 61st birthday.

Team America managed a hefty 12 knots on night watch with main, mizzen, mizzen staysail and spinnaker flying before white watch took charge and demonstrated shifting power by ripping the guy in 2 on the spinnaker which resulted in waking many tired and confused off watch crew to assist. All is fine now.

We have seen 2 tankers, 2 portugese man of war jellyfish and 2 flying fish tried to join the crew.

We are 385 nautical miles from Charleston with 240 miles covered yesterday maintaining a good average of 8 knots.

Ali Bamford
Red Watch

Leg 3: Update 3

17 June 2009

Today is Lou Brisenden's 61st birthday and he celebrates it in the Atlantic Ocean and has been given the honour of sending the update.

Since the last update they have experienced a huge variety of weather including lots of rain which was like needles on their skin. Then a frustrating 14 hours of drifting in torrential rain. When it cleared Liam was sent up the mizzen mast to replace the mizzen staysail block which was jammed. The calm period was a blessing for some of the crew who were suffering with mal de mer. However, today at 4am the wind went round to the east which made life more stable. Good news as they are now reaching under spinnaker and they are the most southerly ship in the fleet. So far, they have been at sea for 265 miles since leaving harbour.

Today Lou's watch is mother watch so they have been making bread (ciabatta, nann bread & bread rolls etc) and Lou suspects he will have to make his own birthday cake!

They are towing a fishing line in the hope of catching a large marlin for tea. They have had flying fish on the deck last night & today so suspect they are being chased by marlin. We were joined yesterday by some tropic birds who were very beautiful with pure white feathers.

All crew are in full banter mode even Liam who won the coverted 'Wally of the day' t-shirt for accidently tacking ship.

Weather is now superb and the sun tan is being applied by the bucket load!

We have slipped to 2nd in class but like our position tactically.

Lou Brisenden
Watch Officer
Rona II

Leg 3: Update 2

1330 16 June 2009

110 miles out of Bermuda.

We are delighted to be first in class but it is still early doors. Apart from the first hour of wind it has been on the nose. We are a bit disappointed with the weather; heavy showers and not a lot of sun. A large majority of the crew have experienced their first and hopefully only bout of seasickness. Nevertheless spirits are still high. Currently winds are light but due to back and get behind us.

Leg 3: Update 1

We are currently in Hamilton harbour getting the boat ready to start the 700 mile race to Charleston. Upon arrival we were met by the entire crew of leg 2 who proved that after 24 days at sea they were still in full singing voice and their high spirits have been transferred to our crew who are now eagerly awaiting setting off. Rona is in fine shape and was left impeccably clean, so another big thank you to the girls. The plan is to slip at around 10am (local time) for the parade of sail at 11, and then on to the start line for a 4pm start.

The ships “Oscar” , a t-shirt with a picture of Oscar from Sesame Street, which is awarded to the crew member who performs the most foolish or embarrassing act throughout the day has gone to Llyod Axten after his indiscriminate behaviours on the plane, it was awarded to him by the air stewardess.

With enthusiasm rising along with the temperature we are all looking forward to setting off. Huge Congratulations to girls for your leg, now it’s our turn!

Leg 2 update 11/6/09

Rona II is in Bermuda! They finished 3rd in class so well done to all the afterguard and crew who took part. They have had some difficulties with communications hence the gap between blogs.

They have had a magnificent race and congratualtions to all of Rona II’s crew for crossing the Atlantic.

They are now heading to Hamilton to moor up and preparing the boat for Leg 3’s arrival.

Leg 2 Update, Sunday 7th June 2009 at 2000 BST

Position 30.40N, 61.47W

The last couple of days have been slightly better than the previous two. We are giving our position everyday at 1400 UTC and on Saturday our day's run was 112 miles and today 105.
If we can maintain our present progress we will be in Bermuda in two days time on Tuesday. In the crew briefing yesterday there was an overwhelming desire to finish the race. as one of the crew put it "we have sailed this boat for the last twenty days and we're not going to give up in the last two". I have a very determined and magnificent crew.As we are the last boat sailing we must go on.It is very hard work as the wind keeps dying away, it doesn't bear any resemblance to the forecasts we are receiving but there is not a lot we can do about that.
The crew are keeping busy sailing the boat to our best ability and some managed to get 4 knots of boat speed out of 4 knots of apparent wind. Our sail changes are now very slick and we have spinnaker changes down from an hour to 5 minutes.
Today we have the Asymetric spinnaker up and our trustee mizzen staysail, this is a very light airs rig and keeps us moving in only a zephyr of wind.
We are also completing a lot of crew training with 4 people through their RYA competent crew and the remainder working on their day skipper.
We received Bermuda radio on Saturday morning for the first time so we know we are getting nearer. The ships routine is as buoyant as ever and the mother watches continue to produce some excellent meals. We have been able to do a lot of cleaning and maintenance in the light airs and Rona is in top shape and driving us on to Bermuda.172 miles to go.

A big Happy Birthday to Imelda's Mum from Imelda and the crew of Rona 2.

Best wishes

Skipper and crew

Leg 2 Update, Friday 5th June 2009 at 1400 BST

Position 27.41N, 57.47W

I wish I hadn't mentioned a boat doing only 35 miles.We fell into the same hole on Wednesday and only managed 33 miles.
On Thursday we did a little better with 39 miles.At least we are managing to sail with virtually no wind.
Rona likes our rig of Cruising Chute and Mizzen staysail,the spinnakers just collapse and slow us down and the main is a great big brake. I remember the Windseeker on GB 2 in 1976 when we used the same technique going to Tenerife.
It is very hard work and everyone is concentrating on making the boat sail well.

We celebrated Pip's birthday in great style yesterday with everyone "dressing for dinner". The three men in magnificent bow ties made for us by our resident artist Robin. The crew were in their magnificent finery, diamonds and Tiara's. As ever the Mother watch produced a meal of genius creativity. It's amazing what you can do with a tin of Chilli and a tin of Mince.The saloon was decorated with balloons and tables laid to the highest standards of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

We then sang and the ship's crew were in magnificent voice. We have an orchestra of 5 ukuleles,2 guitars,a flute,tambourine, marraccas and the indominatable cheese grater.We think we are good but who cares.

Great excitement at lunchtime on Thursday when we heard we have crept into first place in class D on handicap. Our strategy is paying off, now we just have to grit our teeth and hope the wind lasts to the finish.

Rock on Rona 2.

Best wishes Skipper and crew.

Leg 2 Update

3 June 2009

We were doing so well on our strategy of staying 25 degrees north and working our way westward. Alas over the last couple of days the wind has died away to virtually nothing. We are still ghosting along on an ENE1 and making 2 knots under cruising chute and mizzen staysail. These are the only sails that will fill under these conditions. Each watch is developing excellent skills as light airs helmsmen. We are not as badly off as some of the other boats North of us. We spoke to one that had only done 35 miles in one day. At least we have managed to maintain around 100.

2 nights ago we enjoyed one of the famous trade wind rain squalls where the wind went up to 22 knots. We shot along at 10.6 knots for 2 hours. Very exciting after all the light airs but alas it didn’t last. There were plenty of other squalls around but we always managed to miss them.

The crew morale is still high. We are celebrating Pip’s birthday today with a dinner party with full black tie and ball gowns. Some interesting creations are being produced, ‘no you can’t cut up the spinnaker ‘E’’!

Bermuda draws nearer but painfully slowly. And we hope for better winds tomorrow.

Best wishes from the Skipper and crew of Rona II

Leg 2 Update

Rona 2’s blog 1 June 2009

They are coasting along under asymmetric, main and mizzen staysail. Making 5 knots in 7 knots of true wind. Current wind is Easterly 3. The sea is calm and you build up speed very gradually by paying off and coming up. Sailing at 120 degrees off the wind. To make maximum boat speed with the wind off the quarter. This is lovely trade wind sailing. And we think we are skirting the high pressure area which is keeping us moving.

It is very hot and we are in shorts and shirts at night as well as day. We will keep moving west and turn up for Bermuda as soon as the wind veers. Morale on board is extremely high. And the skip routine is well established. The mother watch are producing some fantastic meals. We have had a deep clean of Rona 2 in the fine weather and she is sparkling. We are too far away to hear the HF radio broadcasts from the communications ship but we are in touch with the office on the satellite link which is working extremely well.

The crew are organising a dinner party for later in the week and our Royal Yacht squadron silver service waitress who has been putting the afterguard through their paces so that we can cook and serve the meal. The on watch crew are still getting the most they can out of Rona II and we are sailing well but could do with some more wind. I have a wonderful crew and there hasn’t been a single moan since we left Tenerife and after 2 weeks that is some going!

We have sailed 2239 miles. 760 to go and excitement is mounting. The crew send their love and best wishes to friends and family.

Skipper – Rona II