What we did last weekend with our 1976 Columbia 9.6 diesel/electric
Friday 6am powered from Dana Point to Newport for the start of the race . Race started at 11am as we were the first boat to cross the starting line. The race has 125NM rum line. We did about 140NM in the race with a tack from Newport to mid channel and then a beam tack 134-140 into Ensenada Bay. A final tack in and we did it in 23 hours placing 2nd in our group.
Now what really happened: 50% of the boats DNS or DNF the race. Daytime winds grew from 12kts to 18kts. Nighttime winds constantly around 25kts. Gusts to 35kts. Swells SW up to 10ft. Top speed reached was 12.5kts. Sailing with main only from 11pm. Severe squall at 3:30 am with zero visibility. 3:55 the boom does an accidental jib and to get her back broke in two at the yoke. (severe corrosion found after evaluation). Last 7 hours of the race maintained speeds of about 7kts with foresail at 60 furl. Severe sea conditions spun the shaft coupler and we sailed into the harbor with the jib and straight to our dock.
You can get anything fixed in Mexico for $120. The boom is 2 inches shorter with a temporary fix.
The crew was absolutely confident that this 38 year old boat, #31, was going to get us home. Not a question. We just needed to let her take us to the finish line. She maintained her lines in really adverse conditions and sailed like she was 40ft long. And yes we did put her in regen mode because I was not sure we would ever get her to those speeds again - 120watts/hr was the regeneration reading.
This is normally a slow race but this year the fastest two boats did it in about 7.5 hours. You can do the calculations but that is really fast.
Mike sv Fluke Columbia 9.6 #31
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