Dorade Sets All-Time Speed Records

Dorade Sets All-Time Speed Records

Rod and Olin Stephens’ fastest recorded speed on Dorade in the 1931 Transatlantic Race was 11.4 knots, set when their father, Rod Stephens, Sr., was driving. In the 2013 Transpacific Yacht Race, Ben Galloway set what we think was the all-time speed record aboard Dorade of 15.9 knots (unless one of our followers knows better — please let us know when and where that was topped!).

 

In the 2015 Transatlantic Race, navigator Shaun Pammenter reports that the crew is already smashing every speed and distance record for Dorade.

 

So far the top drivers are:

Ben “Hollywood” Galloway: 
Boat Speed: 17.1 knots* (Honorable Mention)

Sail Plan: A4, all the trimmings, no reefs for me thanks

Wind Speed: 22-26 knots

Terry “Lets Just Keep This Boat In One Piece” Halpin:Boat Speed: 18.7* knots
Sail Plan: J4, one reef and full mizzen
Wind Speed: 24-32 knots

*Speed Over Water

Dorade (1929) back in the "Transat"

Dorade - the 1929 Sparkman & Stephens designed 52 foot yawl - built at Minnieford on City Island -is back in the race.  That is the NYYC Transatlantic Race from Newport to Cowes that she won three times back in the day.  They are trying to match the Stephens brothers' record - 17 days.  It will be tough though because they can't do the great circle route: race planners have defined an iceberg exclusion zone reaching down to 42 N, forcing them due east until turning NNE   at 52 W - east of Newfoundland.  But Dorade did peak at 17.8 kts two days ago in a wet Gulf Stream run.  
At the moment - day five - they are 4th overall in a fleet of forty boats!  The lead boat?  Mariette of 1915 - a Herreshoff-built 42 meter LOA schooner.
Like Dorade on Facebook, follow them on Twitter  @dorade1929, click on Transatlantic Race or download the YB Tracking app (free for the Transat).

Jesse & Maggie's Wedding

Jesse & Maggie's Wedding at Elk Creek Farm
June 27, 2015

Hanging out at Taft Point, Yosemite

Tommy Caldwell

Sunset - Eastchester Bay, City Island, El Bronx, Nueva York

Granddaddy, Dad, Jesse, and Taisy - Father's Day 2015

George W.Conk, Sr. 1985

Jesse and George W. Conk, Jr.
at Stones Point2002

Theresa - 10 days old- 1985

Like ancient mariners

"Day after day, day after day

We stuck, nor breath nor motion

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean"

Committee Boat - EBYRA

Issuma in Southern Chile

Issuma has reached Isla Mechuque in southern Chile.  At 42S and 73W it is due south of New York and nearly the same distance from the equator, but at GMT -4 it is an hour ahead of New York which is 40.7N 73.9W!  Climatologically it's similar to New York- as you can see from the vegetation.
But the austral winter is approaching, rather like Irish winter now - 40's, windy and rainy.

Pretty as it looks this kind of cruising is complicated, as Richard explains in this post Anchorages, Storms & Forecasts.  Taking shelter from a northerly the wind was forecast to swing south at gale force - the exposed part of a harbor.  Wisdom was pointing toward heading out to sea and heaving to for a day or two when the forecast gale dropped dramatically.

Tying a Bowline - tips from a shipwright

More clever seamanship from Louis Sauzedde.  You do know how to tie a bowline but here are a few practical variations. - gwc