Ben Quatromoni Fleece layers. Check. Dry socks. Check. Spray pants. Check.Spray top or Gill Race Smock? Hmmmmm…. These are the checklists and mental conundrums I go through every four hours here on the goodship Vanquish. Life on the front of the boat usually requires a more...
Dave Rasmussen 14:30 - August 16 It’s 2:30 PM on Tuesday and we are just over 48 hours into the Rolex Fastnet Race. Last night brought the wind that the crew has been wanting since we all met at Kings Point three months ago. We saw 30...
Emerson Smith August 16 - 13:15 Things have calmed down a bit. As I come off watch I can finally sit below and remove my gear without being tossed around the boat like a rag doll. I’m enjoying my first hot meal in what seems like an...
Nate Fast 11:15 - August 16 This is the part of ocean racing that you can not prepare for. Sure, the boat is totally ready, all the safety gear has been checked and the provisions are all accounted for, but it’s the true physical and emotional state...
What a day it has been for the Oakcliff All-American Offshore Team. I’ll be the first to admit I’m having a really hard time working down below on the “Vanquish.” The dark, wet, violent, and loud conditions are making it tough to think and even...
We just wanted to share this PDF with everyone - it's all of the important facts and statistics from this year's Fastnet Race. There is also tons of great info on past race records that may need to be re-written after this years race is...
Ben Allen Day 2- 13:00 As I am down for another second full 4-hour “off watch” I begin to fall back into a familiar pattern. Get up-eat-put on foulies-sail-take foulies off-go to sleep. Although it seems easy there are many challenges along the way. Getting our gear...
Molly Robinson Day 2 - 9:00 AM 1st early morning watch 5-9 knots. I completely passed out last night, as soon as I hit my rack I fell into a very deep sleep. Welchy (Chris Welch) said I was sleeping so soundly he had to border on...
Chris Welch Day 2 - 1:31 AM As I have just come off watch for the first time in the race and look at my watch, half an hour has passed already. As everyone is guaranteed four hours of exciting on watch sailing, four hours of rest...
Jesse Day 1, 21:07 The start of the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race was the most exhilarating start to an ocean race I have ever sailed. 350 boats jammed into the mecca of sailing that is Cowes, UK. Europeans have an appetite for sailing and the crowds...