Following a fantastic Tall Ships Charleston event, six vessels are today (Monday 22 May) starting their race to Bermuda to meet the rest of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta fleet who are racing from Las Palmas.
“Blue Clipper has strengthened her lead on corrected time as Jolie Brise has slowed up having found some light and variable winds. There are interesting tactics at the head of the fleet as Peter von Danzig is heading south west to find more breeze, whilst Spaniel heads north west to do the same. The wind is unpredictable over the next few days as the fleet closes in on Bermuda so the navigators will need to make some important decisions.
“In contrast, the US Feeder Race is due to start from Charleston later today and the fresh winds are predicted to stay in the south west to west sector most of the way to Bermuda making it potentially a bit of a ‘drag race’. We will see.”
Paul Bishop, Race Director, Sail Training International
Here are the latest placings on Corrected Time:
- Blue Clipper (UK)
- Jolie Brise (UK)
- Wylde Swan (The Netherlands)
- Spaniel (Latvia)
- Rona II (UK)
- Peter von Danzig (Germany)
- Vahine (Finland)
Note: Positions and placings are correct at time of writing. Check out YB Satellite Tracking for the latest information on both races
News From Wylde Swan (The Netherlands)…
- LAT: 25 41 N LONG: 45 53 W
- COG: 285 SOG 3.3
- Winds: 7 knots Dir 90
“A great day. Slow and great!
“We gave the assignment to the trainees to set all extra sails and to gibe without our help. They did a great job.
“We are not needed any longer. Perfect! More time for me to practise the ukelele, guitar and other instruments. My progress is still very slow still.
“After lunch we put the tender overboard. To be in a small tender at the middle of the Atlantic Ocean was like a moment of escape from the world on board. Very unreal. Everyone had a go and many pictures and movies were made.
“But there are more hours in a day and it was time for the big Forestaysail Hoist competition.
“The fastest time was 15 seconds. This all happens while drops of wind pass peacefully like slow 18th-century politics. Wild in their solitude of endless space. I have to say we are professionals at this. Slow speed and big nonsense stories.
“We move as a happy bunch on towards Bermuda.”
News From Blue Clipper (UK)…
“Le vent des alizes a su nous propulser pour la premiere place jusqu’a maintenant. prenant conscience de sa puissance apres plusieurs bris de voilures, nous sommes de retour en force dans la course. visite de dauphins, poissons vollants et d’une belle prise qui nous a permis d’avoir un bon repas fraichement peche. l’equipage se porte bien. activites de toutes sortes a bord pour le plaisir de tous.”
FOLLOW THE FLEET
Watch the action as it happens and follow the fleet’s progress using YB Satellite Tracking.
GET INVOLVED
You can still be part of this adventure of a lifetime. Berths are available for Race 3 (from Bermuda to Boston) onwards. Why wait? Secure your place today. Check out the available places on our Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta event pages.
You can book your place directly with a participating vessel, or if you’d like help simply email our friendly team on enquiries@sailonboard.com, who can make recommendations, answer questions and process your booking for you.
Photo: Sunset at sea (featured image and banner image courtesy of Valery Vasilevsky).