Third Start Report: Final Four Make Lasting Impression
NEWPORT, R.I. (July 5, 2015) – With 2,800 miles to sail and just two boats on the starting line, a conservative start would seem like the smart play. But for the 63-foot trimaran Paradox, owned by Peter Aschenbrenner and skippered by Jeff Mearing, the start of the multihull class in the Transatlantic Race 2015 offered up a wondrous opportunity to throw a little mud in the eye of Lloyd Thornburg’s Phaedo3, the 70-foot MOD 70 trimaran that is the odds-on favorite to take overall line honors in the race. It was too good to pass up, no matter what the overall risk-reward analysis might say.
The starboard end of the starting line was heavily favored due to the straight shot it provided out the channel, so both boats set up off the Jamestown shore for a long timed run on starboard tack. Paradox led into the starting area off the Castle Hill Lighthouse and, with both boats a few seconds late, seemed to be content to cross the line with a slight lead. At the last second, however, Aschenbrenner hardened up and cut off the path of the hard-charging Phaedo3, forcing the larger boat to spin head to wind on the wrong side of the starting line and turn an achingly slow 360, before setting off in pursuit of its rival.
For a race of this extreme distance, such an advantage at the outset means little. To wit, by 3:30 p.m., 90 minutes into the race, Phaedo3 had rolled over the top of Paradox and was scorching south of Martha’s Vineyard on an east-southeast heading at 30 knots. Paradox wasn’t exactly plodding along, hitting over 22 knots according to the tracker, but was quickly losing touch with the competition. Hopefully the early win helped ease the pain of watching Phaedo3 disappear over the horizon.
Read more: Third Start Report: Final Four Make Lasting Impression
Day 7 Report: Halfway Back to the Old Country
(Sunday, July 5, 2015) – Passing the eastern extremity of Point Alpha, the ice exclusion zone, yesterday evening, Mariette of 1915 has passed the halfway stage of the Transatlantic Race 2015 between Newport, R.I., and southwest England’s Lizard Point. The 138-foot long gaff schooner continues to make good progress, despite enduring gale force westerlies to the south of a fast moving depression.
Skipper Charlie Wroe reports: “The boat and drivers are loving these conditions. Halvard [Mabire, navigator] and his computer have directed us into the south side of this low and we hope to keep this strong wind for as long as possible.
