Maryland Governor's Cup

Freedom returns to the race course for the annual Maryland Governor's Cup. Start time off Annapolis is 6PM (ish) Friday August 6th. Follow the crew (the Skipper, Doc, Andy, Juan Valdez, Z-Man, Pete, and Steve)as they race down the Bay to the party at St. Mary's at www.smcm.edu/govcup.
Go Freedom Go!

Guest Post from Jeff Moore

I have invited Jeff Moore, Freedom Delivery Crew member to be my Guest Blogger this morning. Thanks Jeff for providing information about the competition in Cruising Division 12.


Quick Monday morning update…….


· Freedom has slipped to 6th place, behind Cadence , Poeske, Nostros, Shindig, and BonSpiel

· Freedom has 334 nm to go. Wind looks to be filling in nicely for the next day and wind is on the beam with a good heading for Bermuda.

· Nostros, Shindig and BonSpiel passed them during Sunday evening and overnight, taking a ride on the gulf stream and getting the new wind first. Gulf stream must have been just west of their heading (15 miles?) as the wind got light for Freedom overnight. Appears that the new southwest wind filled in first for the boats who went west early.

· With the wind now (almost) on their beam and blowing 17 kts, it’s a good opportunity for Freedom to make up some lost ground to the 5 boats that went west . Freedom excels in these conditions! Proven on the race course around the buoys when we put 4 miles over Actaea and Grey Ghost on a short leg in a GRF race.

· Cadence has gotten a perfect ride out of the stream (several skeds with at over 10 kts over the ground) and has passed Gold Digger, a very well sailed J-44!!!! Phenomenal. Dolphin (J-42) is further down the race course, close to the rhumb line now after hitting the gulf stream nicely also.

· Lots of race course left! If the wind stays on the beam, Freedom has proven her speed in these conditions.


GO Freedom! Lots of race course left.




GO FREEDOM!

Overnight Updates

From the Skipper at 0:25:

Searching for stream, should be close. going 7+. Lots of storm clouds and warm water


And later at 05:43:

Found stream. added 3 knots of speed. Punishing t-storms pushed us out to the east. Going 8+. Pounding off waves. Haven't been able to sleep yet. Hope things settle down soon. Moving quickly the right way and happy to see dawn.

Other boats in their class went way west to catch the stream, with good results. For now Freedom has lost her lead on the race course, but with over 300 miles to go a lot can happen.

Starry, Starry Night

A middle of the night post from the Skipper:

3:00 am ghosting along at 4.5 on a very close reach. Beautiful night full of stars. Grey Ghost is 1.8 miles ahead. Should catch them in about an hour and a good view at dawn. Actaea is between us.

Wind is getting lighter as expected. Dawn will be light air but it should then build through the day.

Speedboat and Puma rolled us at sunset going 16 to our 8.25. Puma was 3 boat lengths away and went by so fast I barely got my camera out in time.

Dinner casserole was just the right size. Starting at 3:50 has everyone a little off but settling into watches quickly.

Back to navigating. Need to keep us west of rhumb line until the stream.

Grey Ghost is owned by our good friend Phil Parrish, pictured above. He has three generations on board, Phil, his son Ted and his son Austin. Actaea is owned by fellow Corinthian and CCA member Mike Cone. Both keep their boats on the Sassafras River. We are cheering on all Chesapeake Bay boats!

Speed Boat seems to be living up to her name. Puma, aka Il Mostro, raced around the world in between the 2008 Newport Bermuda Race and this year's race.

I'll be posting a race food menu on www.FreedomFareAfloat. blogspot,com later today or tomorrow.

And They're Off

The Newport Bermuda Ocean Yacht Race began today under sunny skies. Shortly after their 4PM start, the Skipper sent this message:

Had a great start and very good speed. First to red bell off Newport to bear off toward Bermuda

GO FREEDOM GO!!!