The HRYC Gulfstreamer.

Race from Ponce Inlet to Charleston, held by Halifax River Yacht Club.

I thought you might be interested in more details about the race up to Charleston. With just hours to go we managed to get our very smart team shirts. A good omen! We slipped dock to the sound of John and Christine Elnitsky singing ( and I use that term loosely) ‘Anchors away’. Pat was our land support as he had to stay at home with his daughter ( Who is mending very well).

It was a relatively uneventful start, however 15 minutes after the start we heard another boat talking to the committee boat to check the gate was still open. I later found out that they went aground three times on the way to the start! They had just completed a race in Savannah and were not familiar with the dastardly moving sands of Ponce Inlet. I guess 15 minutes doesn’t affect the outcome too much when it’s a 246 mile race but it must have been disheartening.

We had four hour watches with two sailors on each watch. Clear moonlight, 14 knot winds on broad reach most of the way. ( To the non sailors that’s a beautiful point of sail with a gentle wind and the sound of water swishing by). We didn’t see too many flying fish but there was a demonstration of spinning dolphins feeding and leaping while spinning out of the water.

The Gulf Stream is a beautiful current that runs northward all the way up to the North Pole. When you are sailing on it, it feels like you’re on a magic carpet because it adds a couple of knots. The color is a deep purple and blue. the camera doesn’t do it justice but his pic of the dolphins shows how clear it can be.

We arrived in Charleston Sunday 13.00hrs, just one hour shy of 48 hours. I heard that we came third overall but that was combining the sprint race and the Gulf Streamer so no award for that however, they did award us with the Perservance Trophy.

It was a great night’s craic and then early rise in the morning to head home. We realised our running lights were out and had to jury rig two flashlights onto the pulpit. One red light and Derek had to sacrifice his bright yellow/green neckscarf for the starboard light. It actually worked well.

One thing every sailor knows is not to sail on a schedule. We had southerly winds and were beating all the way on the first day back. We were averaging 3 knots and hammering the engine. I have to admit I had a little wine flu as well. In hindsight I should have turned around and waiting for the following day when the wind would turn to come from the north. It was dark by the time we decided to turn into Hilton head. Actually we had a very easy passage to a marina near the inlet and we could dock at the fuel dock.

The following days were beautiful sailing. The engine stalled at sunset but everything looked OK and I suprised myself at how little I was concerned. It was a beautiful sunset and Pat R said we might get the green flash so we relaxed and watched the sunset ( No flash). If all esle failed we could drift nearer land and drop anchor. Then when we tried the engine again she responded. I think she was just getting a little tired so we went at a gentler pace.

We headed into Fernandina and Pat drove up to join us. As you can see the Pat R is regaling the stories to Pat. Good food and a little light music on the way home.

Our food supply was actually quite good. Pat Rausch brought subs which were ideal for the race. No cooking and plenty of packing. We then had two nights of Tara’s wonderful stew, easy to make and very tasty and on the last day home. fine cabbage and bratwurst.

And home to Ponce inlet just after sunrise amd a cup of coffee. Julie we need biscotti om every journey. They were our treat.

Home at last!