Race Update

Are you going to Charleston Bermuda Race to get daily updates? The Race Updates there are quite interesting and informative. For example, I now know that there is a difference between a Rhumbline and a Rumba Line.

The most recent entry was actually good news to me. At first, I looked at Yellowbrick tracking and was heartbroken to see that Yanosha and Gratitude have passed Spirit of Juno, and the Spirit of Minerva was gaining on the Spirit of Juno. But it's not as bad as it looks. The Race Update commentary reassures us that they are not pulling ahead in the race. They are almost certainly using their motors and thus, have essentially dropped out of the race. Whew.

That just means that Tucana is really the only boat ahead of the Spirit of Juno. However, Tucana is only 106.7 nm away from the finish line, while Spirit of Juno is 143.4 nm out. That's a lot of distance to make up before the shores of Bermuda! Can Stephen and crew do it?

I think Stephen has some grand plan that will get him to Bermuda first. He just has to give himself the Colbert Bump.

Stephen, You're Going the WRONG Way!!!!!

Have the spiders taken over the Spirit of Juno? Or did the wind break and they can't go towards Bermuda? What if Stephen and crew don't win? Will he get some kind of "participation trophy" or maybe a coupon for $10 off a pair of pink Bermuda shorts?

It looks like a lot of the boats have been sightseeing on their way lately. Yanosha and Gratitude seem to be heading straight for Bermuda while TSOJ heads north and Tucana heads south. Will this race be decided by a nose? Is there a jockey involved? Will they all put down anchor if it's nightfall when they get to Bermuda and wait until the sun comes up? They would have much better photos if they do wait. Someone tell the crews of Tucana, Yanosha and Gratitude to slow down and take a nap so they are rested for all the hoopla at the end of the race. And then tell TSOJ to go for all they're worth! They can still win this thing!

Spiders! Spiders Everywhere!

It was fun while it lasted. Tucana is again in the lead. She is 161.1 nm Distance to Finish and going 6.00 knots while TSOJ (The Spirit of Juno) is 168 nm DtF and going 3.4 knots. In third spot is still Yanosha with 179.2 DtF and going 4.6 knots.

It's been reported that everyone is down in the doldrums, literally speaking. Those boats north of the rhumbline are expected to get more favorable winds later in the day which should help with what is being called a mid-ocean parking lot.

But for more extensive coverage of the Charleston Bermuda Race, you should really check out today's update, "Windless and Wacky, The Adventure Continues." Then you can find out about the Spiders! Spiders Everywhere!

They're Winning

Read it at the Charleston Bermuda Race website:

"World's Greatest Sailor Takes the Lead as Fleet Compresses."

There is a nice update there. If you don't have time to read it now, here's a very brief summary of what's happening. (You really should go read it though.)

The Spirit of Juno has pulled ahead of the pack and are in the lead. But, they are going really slow, only .40 knots. but the Distance to Finish is only 187.2 nm.

The next boat is Tucana with 193 nm to go, however they are whizzing by at 3.10 knots.

And then there is Yanosha with 199.1 nm to go, but they also are not exactly breaking speed records at a pace of .90 knots.

Let's hope Stephen and crew can pick up the pace a bit and stay in the lead.

I wonder if they will have to bring the boats back to Charleston. That would mean another week away from The Colbert Report. But this being Memorial Day Weekend, maybe that's the plan anyway. Of course, they could all race back to Charleston -- that would be fun.

He's Winning, I Think

Okay, so I don't know everything about sailing and maybe there's more to it than meets the eye. But, at least for now, Spirit of Juno is winning. That is to say, Spirit of Juno has the fewest miles left to travel. Here's a little chart to show how it stands now.

Spirit of Juno 197.7 nm 4.10 knots
Tucana 202.8 nm 2.50 knots
Yanosha 204.7 nm 2.00 knots

So, if I am understanding that correctly, Stephen and the Spirit of Juno are closer to Bermuda and they are going faster.

Time will tell.

Charleston Bermuda Race

The excitement is almost too much to endure. Tucana is in the lead going 4 knots with 210 nm left to go. Oops, just updated and Tucana is now going 3.5 knots with 208.6 nm before she reaches Bermuda. Spirit of Juno is clipping along at 5.3 knots with 210.1 nm to go. But both need to look over their shoulder. Yanosha has been making good progress and is catching up with 4.7 knots and 212.2 nm left to travel.

Spirit of Juno could make it to first place if they can keep up the pace. Surely Stephen took my advice and is helping by towing the boat behind him. There's still a ways to go yet, but I'm holding out hope that they can win this race.

If you can stand the excitement, track the Charleston Bermuda Race here by clicking on Tracking under the Participate button.

The Teams

It just dawned on me that I should mention the Teams for the Race. You can see them if you track the race with YellowBrick. The teams are, in no particular order except alphabetical, Eagles' Wings, First Light, Gratitude, Halcyon, Pied'a Mer, Santosha, Solarus, Spirit of Juno, Spirit of Minerva, Tucana, and Yanosha.

I did a little bit more poking around at the YellowBrick tracking screen and clicked on YellowBrick down at the bottom of the screen. Then I clicked on their Gallery of Photos and found out that YellowBrick is actually, sort of, a yellow brick that you can put on your bike or boat or car and track its location and progress.

I'm having a flashback to Dorothy and the Munchkins singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road." Oh, if only Dorothy could have had YellowBrick tracking where she was. She might have been able to avoid the Wicked Witch completely and get back to Kansas much quicker.