TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

Wow. Just when we thought yesterday was about all we’d get, this morning dawned with more wind from the ENE, and an even bigger, now quartering swell. These waves weren’t initially all that much bigger than yesterday’s, but that had real ooomph behind them, and you could feel the energy as they moved through. They were also a wee bit better for surfing both because of the angle and what seemed to be a greater rate of travel (if there’s such a thing for waves). Anyway, this produced excellent base boatspeeds in the 7.5 knot range and lots of good runs in the high 11’s and low 12’s, but it certainly looked as if Admiral Jaeger’s day old record would hold. Except. That having just come on watch, I looked back and saw this really big wave, looked forward and saw a 30 knot puff, and bam! — Otto dropped us in and immediately went “beep, beep.” No Otto was is not the roadrunner of cartoon fame. Rather this is Ottos’ R2D2 way of saying “forget this, I’m outta here.” So we grabbed the wheel and hung on, riding into the trough for a 14.1 knot peak! (And for Dr. John McEvoy, that’s was with .9 knot set/drive to 220, with us of about 180 magnetic).

This, of course, is an unofficial record, not yet certified by the international SOG Surfing Assn. In the doubtful event that we ever get round to forming said association, I’m expecting a T-shirt!

Really though, this was some really good, not to be missed, pounding through the miles sailing. Kinda thing that makes the trip worthwhile, and makes just getting around below a good core workout.