June SITREP
Over one thousand miles of racing completed this season, a couple thousand more to come!
Photo: Manon Le Guen
June was an action-packed month with two races and preparation for the SAS, the longest race this season. Totaling 1,088 nautical miles of racing so far this season, we are on track with the overall plan.
Despite the lack of wind and shortening of each race, the time on Terminal Leave is adding up. Each race makes me that much more prepared for the ultimate mission, the 2023 Mini Transat. Make sure to check out my previous blog posts where I break down each race.
The next race is the Les Sables-d’Olonne – Azores – Les Sables-d’Olonne (SAS). This two stage, solo, and unassisted race totals 2,300 nm. I will send out another blog post previewing the upcoming challenge and what goes into sailing alone for my longest race yet.
Currently, I am back in La Trinité-sur-Mer with the boat hauled out of the water. As most of you know, there is always a work list for a boat. It just comes down to priorities for the SAS, time, and costs. There are a few big challenges that are currently on my mind:
Rudders: I want to have the rudders pulled off, examined, and re-installed by the professional company that repainted the boat bottom earlier this spring. They originally said they could fit me in, but time is getting tight and they are currently working on multiple Class40s. This place is one of the best around and conveniently just a few feet down the road from the boat storage location.
Electricity: The EFOY fuel cell stopped working after the Mini en Mai. I sent it away for repair, however still have not received any updates on when it might be returned from Germany. I am now considering switching to lithium batteries and adding another solar panel. As a series boat, I cannot have lithium batteries with a fuel cell, so I am considering the switch from my current AGM batteries. This would be a big investment, and also an investment for the Mini Transat for next year. To add to the power deficiency without the EFOY, one of my four current solar panels (one of the older deck mounted ones) recently broke between the connection wires and the panel. After contacting the company, they say it is not possible to repair. This leaves me with 75% of my previous charging capacity.
Route Planning: In addition making boat improvements, I also must start focusing on the route preparation for the SAS. This starts with making sure I have the correct charts (thank you Fawcetts!) and foundational information to understand the weather patterns, currents, and tides. As I get closer I will also start diving into the forecasted weather and models for route planning.
Recent Blog Posts
Make sure to check out my recent blog posts recapping the MAP and Mini-Fastnet
Completing the delivery from Douarnenez to La Trinité-sur-Mer, with the last hour of heavy rain
U.S. Patriot Sailing is Going to Ireland!
The Irish Defence Force has invited US Patriot Sailing, to compete for the Beaufort Cup at the International Military Invitational Regatta held 11-15 July 2022 and hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork, Ireland.
US Patriot Sailing is sending a TEAM of nine US Military Veterans from its Annapolis, MD and San Diego, CA programs. Donations are still needed to help fund the travel for the team. Please consider donating here: https://www.uspatriotsailing.org/Donation-Form?fbclid=IwAR3eVgrYJ69OsEDfZnE-PjOqiF4L3bbwOJwGz0EFTXB3FrbiZ9UUfZwwgkA
U.S. Patriot Sailing’s J109 racing in Annapolis, MD
This season is only made possible through support from my sponsors and generous donations from supporters who believe in this mission. So far we have raised over $22,000 this year through the GoFundMe page. These contributions have helped make this season a reality, however I still need your help! Preparing to race a 21’ boat solo in the upcoming SAS, 1300 nm each way (2600 nm total!) is a full-time endeavor. The race registration and logistical costs add up fast for such a serious offshore race. Please share my GoFundMe page with your friends and family! https://gofund.me/dc565273
Thank you for your support!
