Sailing in Chile

Joc and I have have landed in La Serena, Chile so I can sail with Eduardo S. Ramos on his brand new Soto 40, Fenix. This is the first time the boat sailed with the same basic crew that sailed with last year. We have had two races so far. A 21 mile light air affair down the coast to Tongoy. We had a good start only to be passed by 4 boats in a 8 boat fleet. As we worked out way upwind the wind died and it was time to rock hop around the corner. We were able to get by the others at the turn by staying very close. The distance opened up as we went on to the finish. The picture above is from Matias Capizzano. He has taken many great shots over the last two days of racing. Check out his website on the right to look at more shots of the race and other regattas he covered. Celfin Capital sailed a very good race to take second.

The second race back started with a twice around windward leeward then back to home base. We had another good start to lead around the 4 marks. Then it was a jib reach in 7 knots of wind lifting to a run as the wind came up to a max of 18 knots. It is a lot like sailing in California. Good size swells that run pretty fast. As the wind built it was first stronger in shore but on the way back it built off shore. We had a good plan not to be either furthest off shore or closest. Santander was second and tried to take the inside lane. They slowed and ended 5th. We opened a good lead on the outside boats but the wind lifted a bit more than I thought it would and when they came back we lead only by about 10 lengths. As we gybed in toward the finish everything was fine until we ran over a big patch of kelp about 4 miles from the finish. We were lucky to hold on to second, loosing by about 20 seconds to Mitsubishi. So after 2 we have a 1,2 and Mtsubishi is in second with a 3,1. Tomorrow we have 2 up and downs. Fun racing looking forward to more, this is much better that winter in Annapolis....

Ft Lauderdale to Key West Race, Bella Sweeps

Good to report that all went well on the race to Key West on Wednesday.  Hap won the start with a gybe hoist and right out to where the wind was blowing 2-5 knots more.  Aided by a 15 degree shift, we came back ten minutes later to a mile lead over the fleet.  And so it started, 50 some gybes later about half way around the Keys we started to harden up and the speed came on.  Wind range was 12-23 knots over the race.  We heard report of up to 30 behind and believe we were staying ahead of the main pressure.

The Gulf Stream was pretty far off the coast above Miami.  This let us stay out in the pressure till we got down to Fowey Rocks.  Then it was gybing almost every 5 minutes or so.  Big work for all the grinders on the boat, they worked all the way down.  Sails we used started with the A2 and Spin Staysail.  When the wind came up to 20 knots we changed to the A4.  At time reaching speed of over 22 knots.  Really fun sailing.  We went through the A3 and onto the fractional code 0 we call the Fro.  This sail along with the GS really pushed the BM along sailing over 18 almost all the time at wind angles of 130-120..  The short beat into KW with the J4 and all was goo in 11 hr 11 minutes for an average of 14.38 knots.  Not bad when you count the 50 gybes and the average 1 knot of current against.

After KWRW the big Bella goes to the west coast for the Cabo race in March.  Looking forward to getting back to my roots out there. 

 

Results:

 

Yacht Name

Owner/Skipper

Elapsed Time

Corrected Time

Class

Fleet

IRC A
1	Bella Mente	Hap Fauth	0:11:10:59	0:17:12:38	1	1
2	Vela Veloce	Richard Oland	0:12:42:34	0:17:26:14	2	2
3	Privateer	Ron O'hanley	0:13:00:07	0:17:51:52	3	3
4	Decision	Stephen Murray	0:13:22:15	0:18:17:28	4	4
5	Denali	Michael Damelio	0:14:58:37	0:19:54:15	5	7
6	Bella PITA	Jim Grundy	0:13:47:59	0:20:27:53	6	8
7	Beau Geste	Karl Kwok			8	14
IRC B
1	Tonnerre de Breskens 3	Peter Vroon	0:15:21:36	0:19:07:23	1	5
2	Sjambok	Michael Brennan	0:15:02:26	0:19:40:22	2	6
3	Kalevala II	Tapio Saavalainen	0:20:01:12	0:20:48:02	3	9
4	Rim Shot	Russell Dunn	0:20:44:27	0:20:53:09	4	10
5	Hot Ticket	Jim Hightower	0:18:57:17	0:21:17:10	5	11
6	Santarella	James Scalise	0:19:55:20	0:21:34:32	6	12
7	AMHAS	MacKenzie Davis	0:19:44:34	1:01:58:53	7	13

 

Farr 400 intro

Check out the boat at:

http://farr400.com

 

PRESS RELEASE
Premier Composite Technologies to launch new FARR 400
 Premier Composite Technologies and FARR Yacht Design to launch new FARR 400 in Spring 2011.
 Design utilizes the latest composite materials and infusion techniques to create a high performance, grand prix style one design racing yacht.
 Design allows for cost effective and easy transportation due to design elements that mean the hull can fit a standard 40ft flat rack container.
 Pro-sailor Dee Smith on board as Project Consultant.
Premier Composite Technologies, Dubai, Thursday 6th January 2011: Premier Composite Technologies (PCT), the leading global supplier of advanced composite components for the Marine and Architectural markets is collaborating with Farr Yacht Design to design and build a next generation, all carbon, one design 40ft racer. The 40ft, high performance design that has heavily involved pro-sailor Dee Smith as project consultant, will be launched from the PCT headquarters in Dubai in Spring 2011 with early orders to be delivered in late Spring/Summer 2011. The standard package price is from $395,000.
Built by the team of PCT who have proven experience in crafting one design yachts including the FARR 40, FARR (Mumm) 30 and Laser SB3’s, the FARR 400 has been engineered to push the boundaries of modern design and utilize the latest building practices to create an aggressive one design racer that is technically consistent, ensuring absolute equal performance across the whole class.
 All major geometry is created by precision 5-axis milling ensuring complete accuracy.
 The hull has been carefully modeled with a powerful fore body to increase dynamic lift reflecting the latest CFD research.
 A wide stern with a partial chine reduces drag and improves high speed handling.
 The deck layout is a proven arrangement developed from experience with the GP42 and TP52 fleets.
 The huge cockpit provides unfettered space for a crew of 8 and a standard pedestal. The pedestal will drive the primary winches allowing for high speed hoists, gybes, and douses (when using the inboard take down system.) The pedestal will also control the high aspect ratio lifting keel (2m/up and 2.9m/down).
 This keel arrangement provides maximum righting moment while still allowing access to shallow venues. With a ballast ratio of nearly 60% and sail areas to match, the Farr 400 delivers exceptional upwind performance in all conditions with exciting speed downwind and reaching.
 The Farr 400 is an all carbon/advanced composites construction that will be built using epoxy infusion methods to create the highest standards of quality. The vessel will be built and designed to Category 2 off shore regulations.
 The growth of Premier Composite Technologies and its competitive buying strength, ensures that the quality and value of the FARR 400 is unique.
Modern one design fleets require that the FARR 400 can be easily and cost effectively transported to locations around the globe. For this reason, special attention has been paid to both trailer transportation and container shipping. The trailer arrangement has been designed to eliminate the need for expensive trailer permits. With an overall length of 11.8m (with the 2.2m bowsprit retracted) the Farr 400 fits inside a container footprint without any major disassembly. The mast has also been designed to separate into two sections, effectively allowing the entire racing program to fit into a single flat rack container.
“This is going to be a very exciting class with a lot of performance for the cost: fun to sail with a crew of 8, a lifting keel for harbor access, and easily transportable between regattas. In Premier Composite Technologies, we have an experienced partner from whom we expect a high quality product”. Bruce Farr, FARR Yacht Design.
-Ends-
For further press details see www.farr400.com or contact:
Samantha Keen Hannes Waimer
Marketing Manager Managing Director
Premier Composite Technologies Premier Composite Technologies
+971 509 766 138 +971 504 405 577
sam@pct.ae hannes@pct.ae
www.farr400.com www.farr400.com
For FARR 400 Sales Agents please contact:
Farr Yacht Sales RBK Yachting
+1 410 267-6550 +49 89/673460-40
info@farryachtsales.com info@rbk-yachting.de
Boat Sales International AustralAsia
+44 2380 457966 +61 414 500 047
info@boatsales.co.uk salesausnz@farr400.com

RC 44 Miami regatta

 

The Miami RC 44 regatta turned out to be one of the best.  14 boats racing, wind ranging from 5-27 knots.  Everyone had a good time on and off the water.  Some, maybe a bit too much fun off the water.  That is one of the reasons you come to Miami.  First time driver Doug Douglas won the fleet races.  He sailed on 17, recent world RC champion.  Goes to show that a good driver can step on a good boat and be competitive. 

 

Check this video out, some great shots of the sailing in Miami:

We have 5 boats sailing in Key West in January.  Dave Murphy will be using the time to tune up Ironbound a bit more.  David has just joined the class and is loving sailing the boat against the fleet and sailing very fast upwind and down.  The one thing that separates the RC from other sport boats is she goes very well upwind.  Going 8 knots at a very high efficient angle get you to the weather mark fast so you can get to the real fun.

We will be having a private boat show in Key West.  The boats will be docked at Historic Seaport Marina on Dock A 07-11.

I would be glad to show you around the boats and answer any questions you might have.  If you are interested in a private showing of the boats, let me know and I can set up an appointment.

Merry Christmas

Joc and I hope you are having a great holiday season, and we wish you all the best for a fantastic New Year in 2011. Despite both of us having a few health hiccups earlier in the year, Joc and I have landed on our feet and for Joc, finally without crutches!! For myself personally, I am feeling so much better and have been able to enjoy sailing, biking, golf and playing some tennis again. It feels great to be back!

Projects for 2011

RC 44 in KW and San Diego

Soto 40’s Med Cup & South America Regattas

Bella Mente and new BM 72 for 2012

Launch of Farr 400, March

Happy New Year

Dee and Joc

South America Life Style

Just home from my second trip to Brazil in a few weeks.  Again I went to Florianpolis to sail on Pajero, Soto 40 in the 4th and final regatta in the Mitsubishi Sailing Cup.  After a long flight through Sao Paulo and a 45 minute drive we got to our hotel.  Then the hard part started, walking to the boat every day.  It was not too bad.  As a matter of fact I could get used to this.  The little walk way opened to this:

Then it just got better:

Not a bad way to get rid of jet lag.  We did go for a very nice sail and worked on getting the boat faster.  My main job was to come in and see what improvements can be made in the class and on our boat.  There was 9 very evenly matched Soto 40’s sailing by some very good sailors.  It was a long series of 4 different regattas and I can see after doing the last two why it is a lot of fun.  They move the boats on their bottoms to these type of locations.  The New York Times named Florianpolis the best party town of 2009.  It is an island that grows from 400,000 people in the winter to 1.1 million in January and February.   October was maybe early for the season but it was still beautiful. 

We won the last event and moved from 8th to 5th going into this last regatta for all the marbles.  The marbles was not just a pickle dish either, more on that later.  We had an outside chance to win being 12 points behind.  To make things more interesting there was 6 though outs over 22 total races.  But you could not through out any races you did not start in the last series.  This was to get everyone to do every regatta.  A good idea for a new class.  But the 4 boats ahead were well sailed and we would have to have some very good luck to break in to the top end of the fleet.

Back to the job,  We used a few of my ideas to sail the boat in a different way.  String drops and leaving the jib up down wind were the two big speed producers.  The last practice day we spent many hrs on the rig.  Like all other one design swept back rigs, it takes a bit of time to get the sails to match and to increase the range of the setting.  We came away with a new setting that seemed to work.  The next day we started with a 1,2,1 to lead the regatta by 4 points.  This also moved us up in the overall total to 4th and now our outside chance was looking a bit brighter.

There was a lot of talk on the dock of our speed and sailing well.  We took advantage  in the first race by port tacking the fleet at the start.  You have to remember that we were not in it for the overall going into the first day.  So the other boats were watching each other a bit too much..  This gave us a few opportunities.  The next day it was a bit different.

The first race on the second day was good.  4th to the first mark and using our new speed sailed around two boats to take a second.  This gave us a 8 point lead and only 3 points out of first with two races left.  Only problem was our luck.  We had a starboard port with the boat that was leading in the next race, us being on starboard about 1 minute before the mark.  Sailing in Portuguese for me is not too easy and we had a communication error when we tacked.  The on the water umpires gave us a penalty that took us from fourth to last.  We recovered for a 7th but it really killed our come back to win the overall.  We went into the last race with a one point lead in the regatta. 

With us out of the picture there were now only 2 boats that could win the overall series.  That was Mercenario from Argentina and Negra from Uruguay.   These boats were tied on points.  We were in 4th one point behind Troben Grael but neither one of us could pass the other two boats.  Mercenario was in second place for the Floranpolis regatta so we needed to beat them.  Many options…  After waiting for 2 hrs for wind the line was set for a 120 degree course, 5 legs.  Very shifty and puffy.  We wanted to go right but control Torben if possible and make sure we beat Mercenario.  We thought Negre would help us do that. 

We went off to the right, there was a shift and Mercenario cross to take control of Negre on the left.  Torben on Mitsubishi was the furthest right and had the benefit of the 25 degree shift to take the lead.  We were very happy to be in a strong 3rd at the mark and just had to sail a good race to win the series.  Torben sailed this best race to win easily.  We got around Pataonia at the finish for second but we were all watching behind, the big match race.

It is very hard to match race in a Fleet.  Mercenario made a mistake by sailing themselves back into the fleet to cover Negre.  Negre used this to get others involved and on the last leg came from behind to win, the biggest pickle dish I have ever seen:

yes they won the car too, you can fit a lot of marbles in there,  thanks to Mitsubishi Brazil.

1 Negra (URU) - Nicolas Gonzalez - 42
2 Mercenario (ARG) - Luis Eduardo Silva - 42
3 Mitsubishi / Gol (BRA) - Torben Grael - 44
4 Pajero (BRA) - Eduardo de Souza Ramos - 46
5 Celfin Capital (CHI) - Jorge Errazuriz - 53
6 Cusi 5 (ARG) - Jose Estevez - 72
7 Patagonia (ARG) - Norberto Alvarez - 78
8 Ogum (BRA) - Revoredo Zeca - 89
9 Carioca (BRA) - Luiz Roberto Martins – 106

Getting back to the South American life style.  It is Latin.  People want to have fun and they do.  Everyone has a good time and gets along.  Sailing in places like this must help the attitude. For me, I can’t wait to go back…..

Dee

Flying in Brazil Video

 

Check this out from ESPN Brazil

Next stop will be back to the south of Brazil to Florianpolis Oct 18-23.  Voted best party town by New York Time in 2009…  Sailing on Pajero with Eduardo Ramos’s boys again.  Looking forward to some tight racing and learning more about these yachts.  They are fun to sail on but much different than the RC 44.  I believe the 44 is easier to sail well.  The S 40 does fill a need down there where the taxes are very high to import boats.

We have a new plan for the USA RC 44 market.  The first one for David Murphy is on its way to Florida as I type this.  The Worlds are about to start in Canary Isles with 13 boats.  We expect 14-16 boats for the first USA regatta in Miami December 7-12.