Annapolis to Bermuda 2016

[Suijin]

It's not the Bay. The Annapolis to Newport race attracts well over 100 boats and the majority of them are from outside the Bay. And light airs on the Bay are primarily a summer thing and in most cases, in early June, you're as likely to scream down the Bay as not. Have been out of it in 18 hours or less on numerous occasions.

The last race was fast down the bay for the go-fast boats, which got out of the Bay before the wind died, and then got becalmed out in the ocean. Some of them actually went swimming in the stream. Then the slower boats rolled up on them, despite struggling down the Bay. It's a distance race. The weather is a crapshoot.

Regarding local knowledge, there really is not a huge amount that you need to know. Avoid the central channel when the current is ripping in, stay close to the Eastern Shore where the Bay gets narrow, and stay out of shallow water at night to avoid fish weirs and crab pots. That's really about it. Some would argue that there is more specialized wind pattern knowledge to be had but those guys get screwed when their predictions don't pan out as often as the rest of us.

I agree that it's a good warmup for the ocean leg. It lets you get into a rhythm since there is more maneuvering involved. The person that suffers through it is the navigator, as they are basically up 24 hours straight getting you through the CBBT.

 

[MoeAlfa]

Sailing in no wind takes skill. Sailing in no wind in shoal water, among fish traps, in tight quarters with commercial traffic, while having ones ankles incessantly stabbed by dog flies, is a consummate test of seamanship.

 

[DFL1010]

Wasn't that one of the circles of Hell?

 

[Suijin]

Sailing in no wind takes skill. Sailing in no wind in shoal water, among fish traps, in tight quarters with commercial traffic, while having ones ankles incessantly stabbed by dog flies, is a consummate test of seamanship.

Conversely, sailing down the Bay on a good night with the wind at your back and a clear sky is pretty spectacular and a singular experience. The lights of the towns as you pass them, cruise ships lit up like cities cruising past in the channel, and then the run out past Norfolk through the CBBT into the ocean at dawn is pretty special. Good time to see submarines returning to base also.

It's racing. You take what you get. The nice thing about longer ocean races is that the weather never sucks for the whole thing, so you have good memories for at least part of it.

 

[beezer]

[SIZE=11pt]Eastport Yacht Club is having a free seminar on Safety and Preparing a boat to an offshore “Category 1” level associated with the Annapolis to Bermuda Race. There will be only one such seminar this year, so grab the opportunity! [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]The seminar is on [/SIZE]Oct 31 at EYC starting at 9 am[SIZE=11pt]. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The race has gone all out to become easy to join, with new changes that make entry far far easier such as:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]1) Autopilots now allowed for ALL CLASSES.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]2) Powered winches allowed for ALL CLASSES[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]3) No AIS Transponder required [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]4) GPS MOB button does not need to be at helm station (no PITA install if not already set up) [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]5) Better venue, better parties, lots of seminars[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]6) Upgraded to Yellowbrick tracking instead of SPOT [/SIZE]