48 hrs and 11 minutes to do 600 miles around a lot of islands and marks was not easy but it was a very rewarding race and a new experience for the crew of Bella Mente. The boat preformed very well in all conditions. We had a very tight race with a very well sailed Cookson 50, the Canted keel Privateer. The canted keels gives a very large advantage sailing in this type of racing as it is mostly power reaching, and they have the added advantage of more RMC given with the keel out over 40 degrees.
here you have a Tim Wright shot of the start, and Bella has the jump on the fleet.
The course of 600 miles starts off English Harbor, Antigua. We rounded Antigua after a short beat and then reach off to the North Sails Mark just off the island of Barbuda. Leopard, the 100' canted keel fastest boat in the fleet, took the lead of around 2 miles as we gybed around and headed to Nevis on a fast run in 16-22 knots of wind. The sailing was really perfect as this video shows. In the video you can hear Bella screaming, in over 12 knots of boat speed, the keel hums, at over 20 knots, it is quite loud. But we get used to it and it help keep the boat moving at speed.
The sun was going down as we rounded St Kitts. In darkness we then rounded Saba, St Barths, St Marteen and again St Barths to head south east to Guadeloupe. We were leading the race for a few minutes over Privateer as we got near the large Island of Guadeloupe. We had a plan and it was not so go. We ran ran right into Leopard and stopped for 3 hrs. Boats behind could watch our travels and head in around us toward the shore. Many did not stop at all. We continued to sail hard and make large gains back. Only to lose to Privateer by about 20 minutes.
look Ma, no hands
But we did set an elapse time record for mono haul, non powered or non-moveable ballast boats. We also won our class and was first out of all non powered and non moveable ballast boats. We could have won the whole thing but our stop under Guadeloupe was too long.
Bella sailed very fast and hard the whole way. The crew kept it moving fast but in a very safe way. only problems we had was some batten problems on a couple of jibs. 600 miles about 110 miles of beating and we averaged over 12.5 knots. pretty fast including our 3 hr tour...
I really enjoyed the race. So much fun sailing in strong trades, warm water...
Check out the website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
I arrived here in Antigua a few days ago to get ready for the 600 mile race on Bella Mente. The wind has bee in the 15-23 knot range, water and temps in the 75-82 degrees, which is pretty nice for February. There are around 50 boats in the race from over 200 feet to 30 feet. It has been a while since I have visited Antigua and the big surprise is the mega yachts that are here now. Many huge sail and power. I have counted 3 J class boats. Old classics and others that just get your mind spinning on how big they are.
The race starts in a few hrs. Our routing has us finishing in around 1 day 20 hrs which is pretty fast. We hope to get through the holes under the islands well and keep moving. Most of the race is reaching which Bella really does well.
You can follow the race and read news at this site:
You all know I have tried my best to support cancer research over the last few years. Mostly from working with the Leukemia Society, we have been able to raise some really good money. This year I would like to put my efforts, though a bit late into the decease that I went down with, Lung Cancer. Some of you might know that Lung Cancer is the biggest killer but because most people think it is a self inflicting it does not get much funding as other forms of cancer. Some of you know my late friend Rob Moore. He, like myself was a non smoker and he lost his battle over a year ago after a very well fought 2 year battle. We have a chance to support Lung Cancer in Rob's name. Check this out:
The Rob Moore Memorial Regatta Auction is now Open!
Live Event
Sat Feb 16, 2013 5PM - 8PM PST
Corinthian Yacht Club
Make Your Bid to Support Lung Cancer Research and Awareness!
Rob died just over one year ago from lung cancer-- an otherwise very healthy 58 year-old guy who never smoked.
Help us raise money for the #1 cancer killer -- lung cancer by bidding on some amazing items donate by Rob's friends and associates. This online auction is part of the fundraising efforts of the 1st Rob Moore Memorial Regatta, being held on February 16, 2013 in conjunction with the CYC Midwinter Regatta. Jointly organized by the Corinthian Yacht Club and the Bay Area Racing Federation, all proceeds from this auction will go directly to the National Lung Cancer Partnership to support lung cancer research and awareness.
The NLCP's mission is to decrease deaths due to lung cancer and to help patients live longer and better through research, awareness and advocacy. They are a 501 (c) (3) organization with a four-star Charity Navigator rating.
Please feel free to look over the sites and give if you can. There is a big regatta at Corinthian YC this weekend in San Francisco in Rob's name. They have around 140 boats and there will be big parties going on. I just wish I could be there.
The east coast IRC championships here in Annapolis was the perfect place to do a dual score with HPR. We had eight boats, 2 very good east coast TP’s, Interlodge and Flying Jenny 7 that was just donated to USMMA, Catapult a new Kerr 40, Stray Dog a B/C GP 42, OOAH a new Mc 38, Spookie a new Carkeek 40 and 2 Farr 400’s. I had the pleasure to sail on Team Premier, Farr 400 403.
winner FJ7
All photos by Dan Phelps/SpinSheet magazine
spinsheet.com/photogallery
The racing was very good as all the boats were well sailed and in very good shape, with 6 out of the eight from 2011 or later. The first race was a light bay tour. First leg proved to be the most tactical. A port tact reaching start that tuned into a beat. First around was Interlodge, with Flying Jenny just behind. We had a very good start and sailed a good leg to be next, followed by the MC 38, GP 42 and Spookie. The next leg was follow the leader but that all changed on the third leg.
Interlodge, 2nd HPR, 4th IRC
This leg was a run across the bay in 8 knots of wind. Problem was on the other side there was little wind and the rubber band contracted. Worse hit was Interlodge as they showed everyone the hole and a lot of us got around her. This was their undoing for the regatta in both rating system. FJ7 took off getting to the wind first and was never threaten. We rounded second and was able to hold on to the finish less Interlodge passing us 2 legs later. And that was basically it.
1/2 way through the light air Bay Tour

Spookie, 3rd HPR & IRC
The next day with Sandy getting closer we had a perfect day of sailing in 13-17 knots of wind. The RC decided to get 4 races in and cancelled Sunday’s racing for good reason. The first 3 races was wind with tide that gave the big boats an advantage. The last race the tide turned and was more even. With all five races we saw a pattern with the caparisons of the boats. Most interesting was the 40 footers as there were 6 boats you can see a lot.
Catapult K40, 2nd IRC, 7th HPR
The Kerr 40 was a bit of an odd ball in the group as it was a real IRC optimized 40’. She rated the least of all the boats in IRC and finish mostly behind the other 40’s except the MC 38. But her IRC rating came in well and she ended up second to FJ7 for the IRC series. The HPR does not give the Kerr the go slow credits and she dropped to 7th . The Farr 400’s rated not so well in IRC but good in HPR as the lowest rated of them all. We went from 5th in IRC to 4th in HPR.
My take on the whole boat comparison is as follows. The TP’s still have an advantage in both rating systems. I believe this come from two areas. First there has been years of development in these boats by some of the best sailors/designers int he world. Second, there seems to be a dynamic advantage of this size of boats over the 40’s. They just go better upwind and downwind. Biggest advantage is in light air where they can do more apparent wind sailing.
In the 40’s, it is more interesting. Spooky is a high tech latest thing from Carkeek. She is a direct development form the TP’s and also designed to what was to be the HPR fast boat. She is definitely the fastest 40. She is also the most expensive by far. Carkeek has a more reasonable version coming out from PCT. She did not fair as well in the light air and was slower than the Farr 400.
Stray Dog 6th IRC and HPR
The next fastest boat is the GP 42, she is longer by 2 feet or more and very high tech build. She did well in both classes and would have done better if sailed the last race. The next fastest boats on the water are the Farr 400’s. And the fastest 40 in lighter air. They rate high in IRC but the lowest in HPR. We had two bad races and it showed but we deserved our finish on points of 4th in HPR and 5th in IRC. The 400 cost much less but is still built of carbon and epoxy resign. She has a very good mast and winch package and is easy to sail. The Farr 400 is a true one design boat, but we did one small mode for this race that help in HPR and hurt in IRC. That is we added a pole.
Farr 400 Team Premier
4th HPR 5 IRC
hooking up the pole after gybe
The pole was the same length as the sprit. We gybed, hoisted and dropped off the sprit but sailed with the pole. It was very fast in the first light air race when we can sail 8-10 degrees lower than the other boats with sprits at the same speed. In the windward leeward races it took quite a while to figure out what angles to sail, we figured the last race we got it right and it seem to me that we were faster by 25 sec a mile compared to our sister that sailed without the pole. The pole cost 7 ticks in IRC and nothing in HPR, go figure.
Pole set and flying
Next fastest on the water was the Kerr 40. They were very fast upwind in breeze, almost as fast as the Spookie and the GP but quite a bit slower downwind against everyone. We came back from a couple of very bad situation to pass her down wind. Once at the finish line. Also, she was the slowest boat by a lot in the light air first race. If it was a light air regatta, then she would not have placed as well. But you have to give her credit as she was second in IRC, all the go slow credits work in IRC.
The slowest boat on the water was the MC 38. Her best race on the water was the lighter first bay tour. But in the moderate winds of the up and downs she was not so fast. The in the 4th race she had her jib halyard break and was un able to finish the last 2 races. The 38 is the least expensive boat.
Good action at a start
I like the HPR better than the IRC as it promotes fast boats that are fun to sail. The corrected times were much closer in this first try. So I would expect the racing to be closer next year. On the water we all had fun on the faster boats. It is nice to sail fast in the light and the breeze. Something you can say the IRC does not promote in the 40 foot size boats. The IRC could rate these faster boat fairer but they choose not to. The IRC gives too much credit for going slow in this size range and therefore a designer has a choice. Yes, Spookie did do ok in the IRC results. They were the best sailed 40’.
under 10 knots HPR over 10 knots HPR <10 irc="irc" nbsp="nbsp">10 IRC
1 Farr 400 with pole Carkeek 40 Carkeek 40 Carkeek 40
2 Farr 400 wo/p Farr 400 with pole Farr 400 with pole Kerr 40
3 Carkeek 40 GP42 GP42 GP42
4 GP42 Farr 400 wo/p Farr 400 wo/p Farr 400 with pole
5 MC38 MC38 MC38 Farr 400 wo/p
6 Kerr 40 Kerr 40 Kerr 40 MC38
I have been having a great time with TNZL here in San Francisco. Being home for 10 days and sailing on the AC 45 has been a real learning experience. Working with the team as their local knowledge expert is something that comes naturally as I have been sailing in SF bay for over 45 years, wow, that is a long time. But applying my experience to how it works for Cats at over 20 knots is new. Getting to know the angles and speeds. You surely don't want to tack or gybe to often, so taking advantage of the tides have to be done with more planning. More of a strategy, than a tactic.
Yesterday we were had a nice view of USA 17, the 72. I was able to get some shots and videos, so enjoy. Sure is a big monster compared to the little AC45... Yes that is a 45 next to her..
"Team NZ look outside the team to gain an advantage in San Fran.
In a bid to get back on top of their AC45 game, Emirates Team New Zealand have called on a San Franciscan to educate them, while the Koreans have turned to a Kiwi Olympian to steer them in the right direction.
Dean Barker's crew "failed to spark" in the last event of the America's Cup World Series on San Francisco Bay, finishing seventh in fleet racing and fourth in match racing.
So they've gone to Dee Smith, rated by many as one of the world's top tacticians, to clue them up on the nuances of the bay before the next ACWS event on October 3."
Nice to be brought back on board Bella for the Worlds this last week here in Porto Cervo. Bella has been going though some growing pains the first few months in the water. After working the project for over a year this was my first sail on the boat. I joined a fantastic crew and owner, Hap Fauth. The after-guard included John Cutler as strategist, Ian Moore the navigator and I filled in as tactician. We knew we had our hands full with the other boats including Ran that has won multi worlds.
The series started with a coastal race around the fantastic islands here. Shockwave jump out to a great start and lead the boats around 1/2 of the course. we had a 3 boat tacking dual coming out of Boom Ally and Ran jumped into the lead that they would not lose. As we came around one of the islands near the harbor, we slipped just past Shockwave. We then watch almost the whole crew go swimming when they hit a rock very hard and the life lines broke. We ended up second in the race for a good start to the regatta. Boat seemed to go ok.
The next 2 days we sailed 4 windward leeward races in 10-18 knots, really perfect conditions. We lead around every mark in the first 3 races. By no means was it not hard boat were very close in speed and we just got off the line very well and was able to sail very clean. The others had more problems with traffic. In these races we had a 1,1,1,2. Ran on the other hand had 4,4,5,1. This gave us a good lead.
The next day was another Coastal that again counted 1.5 points. Very light patchy conditions. We had a fantastic start and Ran was over the line early and with all the traffic and light air they ended up very far behind. We were in the lead, controlling the race, with Ran deep behind when the race was cancelled. We all returned to the starting area to wait for some more breeze. The RC forced in a race in even lighter air and gave us a course that was more suited for a Bucket Race. Anyway, Ran got to the first mark first, the only beat of 1.5 miles, and we followed. Shockwave went under the island with a code 0 to gain an inside overlap on us at the next mark. This was hard as we could not get around her and ended up coming in 4th. Ran wining gave us the tie on points.
On the last day with 2 windward leeward races in the plan but even with lighter winds expected we boat had 12 points but we owned the tie break with more first places. After 4 hrs of waiting at the dock for wind the races were cancelled and we ended up with the big win.
