"We have been very busy with our big bird, and tardy in up dating this site---we have two nice pieces of news: First, we won the Perini Cup in Porto Rotondo, Sardinia September 8th ---10th. The winds were, uncharacteristically, very light, never much over 10 knots, and averaging around only 6. We were, therefore, very pleased to be able to point as high as any competitors and to make excellent VMG. The Dubois designed Squall, was the boat to beat, and she had flown in a crew of "rock stars" to make her go fast (but we had our our stars in Gerry Dijkstra, Robbie Doyle and Damon Roberts aboard). Squall beat us on the first day, and we took second place among the some 15 competing yachts. But on day two, after recovering from an appalling late start on my part, we cranked up, and beat her for a tie breaking first place to Squall's second place. Much champagne was drunk, and the silver trophy looks good in our salon.
Our second bit of news is that we broke the twenty knot barrier on the way back to the mainland. Sailing in 28 knots true wind, we achieved numerous bursts over twenty knots (as measured by GPS) the best being 20.3. We were carrying full sail and were exactly on our polars---135 degrees true and 93 degrees apparent. We are confident of speeds in the mid twenty range in future winds above thirty knots.
We will drop in on the St. Tropez regatta (but not race) and then go to the Perini Navi yard in La Spezia for some warranty work, before we head off for an Atlantic crossing in November.
Tom
Our second bit of news is that we broke the twenty knot barrier on the way back to the mainland. Sailing in 28 knots true wind, we achieved numerous bursts over twenty knots (as measured by GPS) the best being 20.3. We were carrying full sail and were exactly on our polars---135 degrees true and 93 degrees apparent. We are confident of speeds in the mid twenty range in future winds above thirty knots.
We will drop in on the St. Tropez regatta (but not race) and then go to the Perini Navi yard in La Spezia for some warranty work, before we head off for an Atlantic crossing in November.
Tom