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We managed to catch up with the main portion of the leaders in the fleet yesterday. In a few hours, I will learn if we continue to be with them or not. Our strategy of going around the edges of the high that has been in place over the eastern North Atlantic has proved to be very beneficial. I take it as flattery that a few other vessels followed us to the north. For several days before yesterday, the leaders have been nearly becalmed while we have been doing better than 150 miles a day. While we have sailed a longer distance, we have kept sailing. I think if we had not done this, we would not be sailing as well as we are.

Right behind this small group of vessels that took the northern route around the high, there is a small portion of the fleet that was following close behind us. However, they chose to go straight into the area of the high. They have done well for a couple of reasons. The high started to break up in time for them to come along and not be affected as the front leaders were. Second, they are smaller vessels and many of them are the racing type. I envy them their ability to use the really light winds and keep going at better than 5-6 knots.

Behind these vessels is the rest of the fleet. All of them are now enjoying good, fresh, favorable winds. Our Class B competitors, Akagore and Oosterschelde, are moving at good speeds of between 180-220 miles a day. If their weather system stays with them the whole way into the finish, I am pretty sure Akagore will catch us on corrected time and take first in our class. I'm assuming this after running some numbers and finding that if we were to finish on August 11, all Akagore needs to do is get in before noon on August 15. This is quite within the realm of possibility for her as all she would have to do is sail at better than 135 miles a day for the rest of the race.

It would help us if we could finish sooner than August 11. But the weather predictions indicate we will run into light winds again when we are in the English Channel. I also think those winds will be ahead of us forcing us to tack to windward while the fleet behind us rumbles along at half again our speed with favorable winds.

If the above happens, then the last thing that would change the equation is for the wind to fall light again as Akogare reached the English Channel. These hopes and speculations are part of what racing with handicaps is all about!

Meanwhile life aboard has fallen into a routine. With light winds and smooth seas, no one is struggling as much any more. Hence all chores happen with greater efficiency and that leaves more time for personal interests. Even my life of hunting for the latest weather information is easier and less time consuming. With damp weather surrounding us again since yesterday, there is little incentive to remain on deck, except to check sail trim and discuss the weather from a strategic perspective with the mates. Navigation is not demanding. This will change though, especially if we are in light winds while in the English Channel. Light winds always demand greater attention to trim which has a greater impact on boat speed than stronger winds. When closer to land, there are also currents to content with. Hence, a lot of scrutinizing goes into selecting the best way to negotiate currents in an effort to take advantage of their force while minimizing any drag they may represent.

At our current speed, we could reach the third and last Waypoint at Land's End tomorrow evening. From there, it is less than 200 miles to the finish line in the English Channel. This could be covered in a less than two days with steady, favorable weather.

Later the Same Day

1400 Ship (0)/1400 UTC

POSITION: 49D 57M North x 11D 07M West

We had an interesting call on the radio this morning. Eendracht called to verify whether it was we whom they were tracking on their radar. After an exchange of positions, we confirmed that it was. They volunteered, with some glee, that they had been tracking us for a while and found that they were slowly catching up to us. We agreed that they were and confessed to running around madly adjusting sail trim. In actual, fact we were not running around. I had been plotting Eendracht's course and had long since found that no matter what we did, she continued to slowly catch us from behind at the rate of 18 miles a day. But it was fun to let them picture us running around madly. Then the mate of the watch aboard Eendracht asked if we would join them in a wager (his preamble indicated that they were bored). Since they were slowly catching us, they wondered if we would join them in a bet as to which of us would cross the finish line first. They did not want a handicap, just a bottle of something to the winner from the loser. We agreed. There is a sort of handicap though. They are behind us and feel that the distance is just about right as an equalizer. So now we are in yet another race!

The 1200 UTC geographic position reports (latitude and longitude) are in and we have discovered that we are the third closest vessel to the finish line. We are now one of the leaders! I am surprised at that, as well as pleased. It won't remain that way long. The wind we have been enjoying is filling in and the square-riggers, Dar Mlodziezy and Mir, are getting speed up. The other small vessels in the area are all faster than Pride II in these conditions, too. I wonder if we will be able to hang on for a full 24 hours. I doubt it. But how nice to have confirmation of a sound strategic decision made over a week ago.

The next interesting thing we will see tomorrow is how many of this "front of the fleet" will be passing the 3^rd Waypoint at nearly the same time. We are all, more or less, equidistant in terms of time from it. ETA, at the speed we are going now, is midday tomorrow. I wonder if the promised rain coming in from the west and north will catch us by then. It could be an interesting photo opportunity coming up tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the day has brightened up and the sky has cleared. It is warmer and dryer than I would have guessed based on my studies of the weather maps. I am happy to be wrong. Off-watch crew is on deck enjoying the day. Chris is playing his guitar. John and Jennifer are playing dominos. The on-watch is hard at work chipping the steel anchor hawses in the bows of their rust. And way in the distance aft of us, we see the sails of Eendracht slowly, ever so slowly, rising above the horizon. We can't see her hull yet. If the wind keeps up the way it is, she will pass us sometime in the night.

Giving Baltimore, Ireland, a Reluctant Pass

As I look at the chart and observe our approach to the English Channel, I can't help but think of the times Pride II has crossed over to Europe and made her first stop in Europe at Baltimore, Ireland. This is a place that has truly become a home away from home for the Prides and her crews. Baltimore is now only 110 miles away to our northeast. We would be there by morning if we were not in a race. Well, not to worry. We are scheduled to stop for a visit at the end of September. I can hardly wait to see our good friends there again.

It is interesting how this friendship began. I was skipper of the first Pride getting her ready to sail to Europe in 1985. Before departure, an emissary visited us from Baltimore, Ireland - one Gerald O'Flynn. Mr. O'Flynn was there to convince us that we needed to pop in at Baltimore on our way up to Cork, as it was on the way. My problem was that any time we promise to be somewhere, it is necessary to adjust the schedule to accommodate the stop. As it was, I had some concern as to whether we would have the time to "pop in."

But Gerald is a great persuader and I promised that we would stop by, probably for only a day as we had obligations in Cork. His response was "Fine! Grand! To be sure!"

Well, who would have thought that we had sealed a deal for an event beyond all anticipation. The Atlantic crossing was quicker than I had anticipated. We arrived a full ten days before we thought we would. That began a ten day period in which no one in Baltimore and no one aboard Pride got any rest. Oh, there was plenty of work done each day on both sides. But there was little or no sleep as we bonded in a fashion only fantasy promises. Since then, it has become a tradition that on all Atlantic crossings to Europe, Pride II stops at Baltimore, Ireland. This will be the first time this won't happen on our way over. I hope no feelings have been hurt. But as I said, we will stop by for a formal visit at the end of September on our way home.

1600 Hours

Well, the results are in. Pride II continues to be 1^st in class and 4^th I fleet. What was interesting, though, is that Kruzenshtern has fair leaped from 8^th in fleet to 5^th! She made a 268-mile day and so has caught her square-rigged sisters, Dar Mlodziezy and Mir. If we can't get going and finish this race and those at the back of the fleet don't slow down, we front runners will be looking at finishes somewhere down the list rather than at the top. Such are the fortunes of racing with Mother Nature as your means of propulsion!

Cheers,
Captain Miles