Haji

I'm actually rather worried for the leaders. They're probably the most sleep deprived people on the planet right now. And they're in intense sailing conditions with challenging tactical options, approaching one of the most busy commercial shipping area on earth. Add in a considerable amount of fishing boats who may or may not be using AIS. What could go wrong, you ask? Anyhow, thinking back, I guess I was lucky to finish on my own.

I don't think anyone could have written up a more nail-biting scenario than what's brewing now.

Interesting.

Not 100% sure about this...I hope there's nothing wrong.

Can you pm me your email?

Whoops, just saw this, sorry for the delay. I hadn't seen that set of reports (or had forgotten them), so thanks for the link! Looks like a very good compressed version of all the legs on one page. Someday I need to put all of my reports from the 02/03 AA into a book. Too much of a memory wormhole for me to read that page entirely right now...too busy watching the current suspenseful event! But I won't be able to resist at some point soon.

Makes for it exciting and interesting for us as spectators. However with Burton having the better port foil vs Dalin, the prudent move may have been to grind him down then cover to the finish. I suspect that Dalin may have some element of intimidation on his side, having repeatedly come out ahead in the majority of hand to hand tussles so far.

Was just wondering the same thing...

If Damien can hang close with the foilers to the doldrums, and there's enough upwind work on the home stretch...watch out.

That's Rumbleseat & me, yes. From long ago. That particular aerial shot was from the 94 DH Farallones race, with my friend Hans Kaufman along. The attached shot was on the way back from the Farallones.

Agreed. Started to develop sort of a crush on her. Something about her matter-of-fact style of delivery...yet somehow barely hiding the stress and emotions under the surface.

What's up with JLC? Got swallowed by a wind hole?

I'm so bummed for Isabelle, and hope she can keep her spirits up while struggling to get to shore. Oof.

Diesel generator.

It's hard to go without fuel without performance sacrifices. Hydrogenerator charging (whether with a Watt & Sea hydro or an electric propulsion unit like an Oceanvolt) is a always a bit of drag. The energy density of fossil fuel is difficult to match. But redundancy is key, so having a lot of solar panels and the hydros, in addition to high power alternators on the engine is the smart way to go.