Gulf stream may be getting “interesting”… Will be interested to read the next update from the pros as to what is happening to the previously obvious conveyor. And what direction is that upper feature’s currents? 
Bermuda Prep – Weekend Update
Gentlemem…It was an extremely productive weekend. There is always “more” to do in pursuit of perfection but progress was made! Huge thanks to Peter Carpenter and Gerry Canet.
Pete assisted in removing the steering cables, then the quadrant and the autopilot control arm and eventually dropping the rudder out of the boat after determining that the play in the lower rudder bearing was sub-optimal. Thx Pete!.
Gerry and his son Augusto came on Sunday and we setup scaffolding and were able to burnish the entire bottom to >1,000 grit. Augusto provided moral support and entertainment with his enthusiasm for driving. Augusto got quite a bit of driving in on hist first ever day of driving a golf cart!
I continued on Sunday and made progress in modifying some stainless pipe berths…if all goes well (fingers crossed) we may have two more somewhat comfortable bunks in the main salon.
Bill Slattery and John Fallon both stopped by to provide a little moral support which was much appreciated.
THERE IS ONLY ONE MORE WEEKEND before the boat leaves for NEWPORT 0-: I need to update my list and determine what help I may need either a weeknight or two or during the coming weekend. Please start looking at your schedule(s) and thinking about where you might be able to carve out a couple of hours to help… We may need to do one semi-mandatory gathering prior to the boat leaving… More info to follow…
Attached are a few pictures of some of the efforts and events mentioned above:
Fri. May 23rd – Block Island Race
Nice work TEAM! 2nd in class and 7th overall….AND we know exactly the few mistakes we made that kept us just out of first in class and even higher in the fleet!
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The 2014 Block Island Race is upon us! The race begins on FRIDAY, May 23rd. Dock Call will be FRIDAY MORNING at 10am at McMichael’s 447 East Boston Post Road.
We will have our full Bermuda Crew. The start is off Stamford so we have some motoring to do to get to the starting area. First Gun is at 2:00pm. We will do some safety talks, tours and drills MOB, etc. on the way up.
We are now officially entered. There will be at LEAST 5 J44’s.
YachtScoring page is located here with info of interest: http://www.
GMAIL BASIC HTML VERSION LINK!
A useful link should we be accessing GMAIL over satphone…
Karver furling tips
Received this from the guys over at Euromarine Trading about using a top-down furler…not sure if it applies to normal Code 0 furling but “interesting”
Training Requirements
4.0 TRAINING AND SKILLS
4.1 Steering in an Emergency: A yacht’s crew shall be aware of multiple methods of steering the yacht with the rudder disabled, and shall have chosen and practiced one method and be prepared to demonstrate it while sailing both upwind and downwind.
4.2 Annual Man Overboard Training: Annually, two-thirds of the yacht’s racing crew shall practice man-overboard procedures appropriate for the yacht’s size and speed. The practice shall consist of marking and returning to a position on the water, and demonstrating a method of hoisting a crewmember back on deck, or other consistent means of re-boarding the crewmember.
5.2 Safety At Sea Seminar Attendance: At least 30% of those aboard the yacht, but not fewer than two members of the crew, including the Captain and Navigator or a Watch Captain shall have attended a one-day or two-day US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea Seminar within the last five (5) years, or other courses as approved by US Sailing.
5.3 Routine Training On Board: The Captain and not less than 80% of each yacht’s crew shall, prior to the start of the race, participate in on-board training, including man overboard practice, sailing with the storm trysail, use of the life raft, lifejackets, safety harnesses, main boom preventer, communications equipment, pyrotechnics, EPIRB(s), fire prevention, firefighting and the procedures for abandoning ship, dismasting and rudder/steering loss or failure. All participating crew shall sign and date the On Board Training Certificate.
5.4 Safety Demonstration: A yacht’s crew shall be able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the BROC, an ability to return to a man-overboard in reasonable amount of time.
Rev. February 4, 2014 Page 14 of 18
5.5 Digital Selective Calling (DSC): If equipped, all crew shall review the emergency features of DSC, including the response to a DSC Distress Call.
5.6 CPR and First Aid: Two crew members must have current CPR and First Aid certifications.
Safety highlights from official Checklist
2.3.4 Potable Water: A yacht shall have an installed water tank
and delivery system. A yacht shall carry 5 gallons of
potable water per person, not including emergency water.
2.1.2 Hatch Boards: A yacht’s hatch boards, whether or not in
position in the hatchway, shall be secured to the yacht (e.g.
by a lanyard) for the duration of the race to prevent their
being lost overboard.
2.7.1(a) Fuel On Board: A Yacht shall carry sufficient fuel to
provide a cruising range under power of at least 100
nautical miles after finishing.
3.1.1 Lifejackets: Each crew member shall have a life jacket that
provides at least 33.7 lbs (150 N) of buoyancy, intended to be
worn over the shoulders (no belt packs), meeting either U.S.
Coast Guard or ISO specifications. Life jackets shall be
equipped with crotch or leg straps, a whistle, a waterproof
light, be fitted with marine-grade retro-reflective material,
and be clearly marked with the yacht or wearer’s name, and
be compatible with the wearer’s safety harness. If the life
jacket is inflatable, it shall be checked for air retention
regularly.
3.2.3 Lifejacket and Harness Use: Each crew member shall wear a
safety harness and lifejacket while on deck
3.2.3.1 from sunset to sunrise;
3.2.3.2 when the mainsail is reefed or being reefed;
3.2.3.3 when otherwise required by the skipper.
3.3.2 Spare Navigation Lights: A yacht shall have a second set of
navigation lights that comply with U.S. Coast Guard
requirements and which can be connected to a different
power source than the primary lights.
3.4 Fire Extinguishers: A yacht shall carry fire extinguisher(s)
that meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
3.6 Flares: A yacht shall carry:
3.6.1 Two (2) SOLAS orange smoke flares not older than
the expiration date.
3.6.2 Six (6) SOLAS red parachute flares not older than the
expiration date.
3.6.3 Four (4) SOLAS red hand flares not older than the
expiration date.
3.8.2 Handheld VHF Radio: A yacht shall have a watertight
handheld VHF radio or a handheld VHF radio with a
waterproof cover. After 1/1/2015, this radio shall have
DSC/GPS capability.
3.8.3 Emergency VHF Antenna: A yacht shall have an emergency
VHF antenna. After 1/1/2015, the emergency antenna shall
be equipped with sufficient coax to reach the deck, and have
a minimum length of 15″ (381 mm).
3.21 Sail Numbers: A yacht shall have the ability to display sail
numbers and letters of the size carried on the mainsail by an
alternative means when none of the numbered sails is set.
3.24.1 Searchlight: A yacht shall have a watertight, high-powered
searchlight, suitable for searching for a person overboard at
night or for collision avoidance.
3.26 Radar Reflector: A yacht shall have an 11.5″ diameter or
greater octahedral radar reflector or one of equivalent
performance.
3.27 Buckets: A yacht shall carry two (2) stout buckets of at least
two gallons (7.6 liters) capacity, each with a lanyard
attached.
3.28 Safety Gear and Through Hull Diagram: A yacht shall post a
durable, waterproof diagram or chart in the main
accommodation area where it can be seen easily locating the
principal items of safety equipment and through hulls.
3.40 Grab Bag(s): A yacht shall have for each life raft a grab bag
with a lanyard and clip. Each grab bag shall have inherent
flotation and be of a bright fluorescent color, and at least
one grab bag shall contain a properly registered 406 MHz
EPIRB and a watertight handheld VHF radio or a handheld
VHF radio with a waterproof cover. The VHF radio and
EPIRB need not be in addition to the other requirements
contained herein.
Personal Safety Gear Details
Starboard Watch
1) Markus – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
2) Bill S. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
3) John F. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(yh5)
4) Gerry C. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
5) Jared B. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
6) Kevin F. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(yh6)
Port Watch
1) Pete C. – Harness(Y) – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
2) H.L. DeVore – Harness(Y) – Tether(Y) – PLB? – AIS(Yh1)
3) Dan F. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(yh4)
4) Steve C. – Harness(Yh) – Tether(Yh) – PLB? – AIS(yh3)
5) Katie DeVore – Harness(Y) – Tether(Y) – PLB? – AIS(Yh2)
6) Hank K. – Harness? – Tether? – PLB? – AIS(y)
Fri. June 27th – Return from Bermuda
Bermuda Entry Letter for Return Crew (Word)
Putting here now for access from anywhere should revision be needed… Ahhhh crud…well I guess this is why I kept an editable version:
