[caption id="attachment_11278" align="alignright" width="350"]
Russ Hancock (left) and Jonathan Green, onboard Jeroboam and en route to Bermuda[/caption]
We spoke with Jonathan Green (onboard Beneteau 351 Jeroboam) before he and Russ Hancock started out for Bermuda in the double-handed class. Here's his latest update, but you can follow along using his blog at jaybirddog.blogspot.com.
"The light air finish is sure to test our patients. The GRIB files have been limited in their accuracy, perhaps only 50% of the time have their predictions come to fruition. The latest report is showing a big header into Bermuda so we thought about pointing up a bit in preparation but in sacrifice of speed.
"As the wind speed drops, we're having to work the boat hard through each shift, trying to keep pace with Lora Ann, Choucas and Arrowhead, the lead boats in our class. Paladin swooped in last night and is driving hard toward the leaders as well. We're doing everything we can to stay in the game but it's frustrating in a dying breeze.
[caption id="attachment_11277" align="alignleft" width="300"]
The Beneteau 351 at the start of the Bermuda race[/caption]
"Up at the front of the DH pack, Alibi and Resolute have done a brilliant job keeping up with the Class 40s. Alibi has the rating advantage so if Resolute doesn't make some moves soon, they're going to end up second fiddle on corrected.
"We had some issues with the two part staysail halyard so I had to go up the mast
yesterday which was very unpleasant in that sea state; a little banged up but none the worse for wear.
"We're still hoping to finish tomorrow but all depends on this breeze. Just as I typed this out, we lost another half knot of wind speed. Hang in there!"
