The Call of R2AK: 2023 Edition

[Russell Brown]

Efficient pedal drives is the name of the game at the moment. They help make enough apparent wind to keep the boats sailing even when the water is barely wrinkled.

Eric Pesty has a pedal drive system worth checking out (photos in the blog post below). Almost everyone's system is different. You can't buy a great system, and if you could it wouldn't fit all boats, so lots of innovation.
Some really cool ones this year, but I didn't take pictures.
http://gougeon32.blogspot.com/2023/03/2022-r2ak-pedal-drive-systems.html#comment-form

Off Campbell river today. My buddy was heading home and saw Eric:

 

[Sidecar]

Pestou the first to get going again…. and going faster than anyone else still sailing (Mojo, Fools and Monkey). The current turns first in the shallows?

 

[Tacoma Mud Flats]

Kind of like the yellow flag is out, most of the field is now on the same lap, waiting for the safety car to turn off and racing to be resumed.

 

[Tacoma Mud Flats]

Ruf Duck's is into the breach of Seymore Narrows...in the dark (maybe) (11:50)

We Break Four Whales - now in the channel. Tres Equis close behind.

Both now over or past Ripple Rock (12:04)

We Break Four Whales now past Sea Lion Rock (12:10)

Note: no telemetry from Ruf Duck for 40 minutes... ? (12:10)

We Break Four Whales now at Brown Bay, Tres Equis close behind (12:20)

Ruf Duck back on the radar screen - a new telemetry message from Ruf Duck - last was 45 minutes ago. Ruff Duck are out in front of pack, past Separation Point. (12:25)

Ruf, We Brake and Tres should be past the Chained Islands in 20 minutes. Floating along at 4-5-ish knots.

Looks like the pack is going to follow behind them in 20 minutes.

Up at 6:00AM for the start of Le Mans, so good night and over and out. (12:35)

 

[sleddog]

WHALES looks to have all the necessary ingredients to bash out Johnstone Straits in good nick..RUF DUCK was slightly ahead when they approached Knox Bay. But that was several hours ago, and the DUCK has gone dark, both on tracker and AIS. Wind at Fanny Island, close abeam WHALES, is reporting W@19knts.

 

[Sidecar]

Looks to me like Ruf Duck has pulled into Knox Bay on West Thurlow Island?

 

[jdazey]

Tracker shows DUCK in Knox Bay. Not a place they would normally park, so I hope it's not mechanical problem. That's where they turned around last year with torn main.

 

[Sidecar]

Ruf Duck on the move again.

Tres Equis looks to have retired?

 

[jdazey]

Ruf Duck back underway but many miles behind.

 

[Tacoma Mud Flats]

Tres Equis headed upstream

Assume this is a tracker issue.

Now on Highway 19 (8:10). Perhaps driving to Torfino?

AIS indicates they are on the move.

 

[sleddog]

TRES EQUIS tracker gone bonkers. They seem to be on the course? Good to see RUF DUCK headed west after stop in Knox Bay for several hours.

 

[boomer]

Odd how many are tacking shore to shore. Usually one side has current relief or positive current. Pick the side with current relief, and short tack up that side, fairly simple really. Current relief or not, short tacking is usually advantageous by a good amount. Note how "Dacron and Denim" appear to have chosen one side, and are sticking to it, since making the turn and headed west beyond Rock Bay.

In 2018 we were sailing to Ketchikan in my son's Ranger 33, and pulled into Rock Bay for the night to take advantage of the tide change and catch some tasty Cod. To bed early after a dinner of cod, shrimp, vegetables and a salad, I was up at daylight, and sitting in the cockpit, sipping a fresh cup of drip coffee - checking Canadian Weather - Environment Canada, which was calling for a gale in Johnstone Strait in the afternoon. Though not as reliable with light air forecasts, Environment Canada is usually spot on when calling a gale.

I look up about 0500 hours when five R2AKers - Global Diving, the IOR 40'er and three others sail past Rock Bay. Chomping at the bit to be underway, I go below and grind the beans for a thermos of coffee. The smell of fresh coffee, jogs my son and one crew member to awaken, followed by our fourth crew member. I ask if we can cook breakfast underway, after we hoist the main, hoist the anchor and get under way. Anchor up and clean, we hoist the 150%, and clear the bay.

My son sees the five sailboats under sail, with miles lead, and realizes why I wanted to get underway, and says, "how are we going to catch them under sail, dragging a three bladed wheel, and towing an Avon with 22 gallons of spare fuel." I reply, "We'll pick them off one by one, note how they're tacking shore to shore - I bet we catch them by noon."

We found current relief on the opposite shore from Vancouver Island, and began short tacking up the shoreline. By noon we caught three and then passed the IOR 40'er, with Global Diving, leading about a 1/4 mile, in their 34'er - just past West Thurlow Island on approach to the north side Helmcken Island to avoid the currents of Race Passage on the south side. Global Diving inexplicably, choose the south side and through the currents.

We came out with about a 1/2 mile lead past Helmcken Island, and the wind died. Global diving breaks out the oars and catch us and pass us by Earl Ledge on Hardwick Island as a light breeze fills in. I request, can we break out that new 90% jibtop, because it's gonna blow gang-busters shortly. The sail change is made as the new westerly breeze fills in and builds, and we begin to move along at a good clip under the full batten main and jib-top. We pass Global Diving by Hardwick Point, as they make their first headsail change.

We then look for current relief once past Hardwick, but don't see any when comparing SOG with our knotmeter, so tack for the Vancouver shoreline, where we find .5 knot current relief, and begin to short tack up the Vancouver shoreline. Looking across and back at Global Diving, they go through another headsail change to a 110 or 100%. We start tacking on every wind shift. The wind continues to build to 30+, with the wind direction oscillating 25-30°, about every 12 minutes.

Carrying a big bubble in the heaviest gusts, we parallel the Vancouver shoreline, and tack on every shift. My napping son awakens from below, and looks at the course which was mirroring the Vancouver shoreline, and smiles. By then Global Diving was a small white speck on the horizon.

 

[sleddog]

It appears DOGSMILE has escorted MOJO into Blenkinsop Bay before continuing on. PESTOU now 3rd.

 

[boomer]

and DACRON and DENIM have slid into fourth....

 

[jdazey]

Uh oh, Ruf Duck just turned around and headed into Billygoat Bay.

 

[trimejust4fun]

Tres Equis is grinding down WSFW as they have almost a 2.5 kt SOG advantage. Battle for the podium is on!!!

 

[sleddog]

Unnofficially, MOJO has retired and are evaluating options. "wind system setting up for next few days not conditions to ensure safety of boat and crew.."

Extended Forecast for Central Coast ​

Issued 04:00 AM PDT 10 June 2023
Monday Wind northwest 15 to 25 knots increasing to northwest 25 to 35 in the afternoon. Tuesday Wind northwest 30 to 40 knots.

Extended Forecast for Hecate Strait S. Half issued 04:00 AM PDT 10 June 2023​

Monday wind northwest 15 to 20 knots increasing to northwest 25 to 35 in the afternoon. Tuesday Wind northwest 30 to 40 knots. Wednesday Wind northwest 25 to 35 knots diminishing to northwest 15 to 25.​

 

[j 4]

Odd how many are tacking shore to shore. Usually one side has current relief or positive current. Pick the side with current relief, and short tack up that side, fairly simple really. Current relief or not, short tacking is usually advantageous by a good amount. Note how "Dacron and Denim" appear to have chosen one side, and are sticking to it, since making the turn and headed west beyond Rock Bay.

In 2018 we were sailing to Ketchikan in my son's Ranger 33, and pulled into Rock Bay for the night to take advantage of the tide change and catch some tasty Cod. To bed early after a dinner of cod, shrimp, vegetables and a salad, I was up at daylight, and sitting in the cockpit, sipping a fresh cup of drip coffee - checking Canadian Weather - Environment Canada, which was calling for a gale in Johnstone Strait in the afternoon. Though not as reliable with light air forecasts, Environment Canada is usually spot on when calling a gale.

I look up about 0500 hours when five R2AKers - Global Diving, the IOR 40'er and three others sail past Rock Bay. Chomping at the bit to be underway, I go below and grind the beans for a thermos of coffee. The smell of fresh coffee, jogs my son and one crew member to awaken, followed by our fourth crew member. I ask if we can cook breakfast underway, after we hoist the main, hoist the anchor and get under way. Anchor up and clean, we hoist the 150%, and clear the bay.

My son sees the five sailboats under sail, with miles lead, and realizes why I wanted to get underway, and says, "how are we going to catch them under sail, dragging a three bladed wheel, and towing an Avon with 22 gallons of spare fuel." I reply, "We'll pick them off one by one, note how they're tacking shore to shore - I bet we catch them by noon."

We found current relief on the opposite shore from Vancouver Island, and began short tacking up the shoreline. By noon we caught three and then passed the IOR 40'er, with Global Diving, leading about a 1/4 mile, in their 34'er - just past West Thurlow Island on approach to the north side Helmcken Island to avoid the currents of Race Passage on the south side. Global Diving inexplicably, choose the south side and through the currents.

We came out with about a 1/2 mile lead past Helmcken Island, and the wind died. Global diving breaks out the oars and catch us and pass us by Earl Ledge on Hardwick Island as a light breeze fills in. I request, can we break out that new 90% jibtop, because it's gonna blow gang-busters shortly. The sail change is made as the new westerly breeze fills in and builds, and we begin to move along at a good clip under the full batten main and jib-top. We pass Global Diving by Hardwick Point, as they make their first headsail change.

We then look for current relief once past Hardwick, but don't see any when comparing SOG with our knotmeter, so tack for the Vancouver shoreline, where we find .5 knot current relief, and begin to short tack up the Vancouver shoreline. Looking across and back at Global Diving, they go through another headsail change to a 110 or 100%. We start tacking on every wind shift. The wind continues to build to 30+, with the wind direction oscillating 25-30°, about every 12 minutes.

Carrying a big bubble in the heaviest gusts, we parallel the Vancouver shoreline, and tack on every shift. My napping son awakens from below, and looks at the course which was mirroring the Vancouver shoreline, and smiles. By then Global Diving was a small white speck on the horizon.

I was on team Global that year, @boomer, and vividly remember sailing with you all in Johnstone Strait. (Also vividly recall getting nailed by those currents south of Helmcken. Maybe even worse than choosing to go south, I think we got into them accidentally when the wind died, after actually sailing north of the island, too.) You all looked great as you passed us, dinghy trailing behind and all. Glad to know it was you.

 

[Autonomous]

Lillian's Vacation looks like she got off the ferry in Victoria. Back in the race after taking care of business?

 

[shebeen]

Pestou's boat is a matter of "What's the best boat for the R2AK? The one you have!!!"

He has been terrorizing the Northwest multihull fleet on his F-24II for more than a decade, and has won the Northwest Multihull Championships multiple times SINGLE-HANDED against fully-crewed boats.

He has optimized his boat for single-handing, and is able to push it to the limits and beyond, in part because it is a relatively conservative and forgiving design, and in part because he's French.

All of that said, the R2AK is about twice as long as his previous longest race (which he also won) so everybody (including himself) is interested to see how long he can keep the pace up.

I don't doubt his abilities in anyway.

Let me rephrase it then.

There's no prize for winning it single handed. His boat and set up is perfect for a second person on board. Beyond everything else, you have to pedal too! Would definitely be quicker. If Pete Burling was racing, he would invite Blair for the ride.