The local "Times" reports in great detail that the participants had the official reception party in the fine New York Yacht Club on Wednesday and are discussing the unclear weather situation, and some of the most beautiful and fastest ships of these days are waiting on the Hudson Murder. The tension is palpable in Manhattan - tomorrow the great regatt over the Atlantic Ocean begins.
The diverse and exciting backgrounds of this Rolex Transatlantic Challenge are described in detail in the current YACHT: It's about nothing less than the hunt for the oldest record in sailing. The schooner "Atlantic" sailed over the Atlantic 100 years ago under the command of the great Charlie Barr in 12 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 19 seconds.
In order to undercut this time, all yachts work almost around the clock with full commitment. On "Mari-ChIV", one of the top favorites, the power winches had to be replaced with manual ones, otherwise a record would not be recognized according to the regulations. In addition, the crew is still gaining experience with the new plug-in swords that were built in especially for the race and are intended to provide dramatically better upwind properties. It goes without saying that the new sails for the ocean race on many yachts off the Hudson Estuary also have to be thoroughly tested. Otherwise, the crews deal with safety seminars, advice on tactics and provisions.
In the latter point, John Fauth, owner of the 115-foot luxury sloop "Whisper", set the standard. Two chefs pre-cooked menus for 20 days - for 24 men. The weight that comes on board is compensated by the dismantling of dispensable furniture and the removal of opulent paintings. The on-board sculpture was wrapped in protective film so that it would not be damaged on the 3,000-mile crossing.
According to the latest findings, such a mishap could happen early on. Originally, a light wind was expected at the start on Saturday, but the situation changed at short notice. A pronounced low is developing relatively quickly only 200 miles away. Its path is not yet clear, but the weather experts now expect the wind to come against it at 40 to 50 knots at takeoff - exactly the right setting for the North Atlantic.
More information about the race at www.nyyc.org