Volvo's on the Chesapeake

[Saguday]

Volvo\'s on the Chesapeake

Guys'n'gals,

Just spent this glorious sunny day on the Chesapeake watching the start of the Volvo's - Fan-bluidy-tastic!!! Thousands and thousands of boats out, people walking over the Bay bridge, bright sunshine and a good working breeze. Cadged a ride on a posh boat with those nice people at Gratitude Yachting Center in Rock Hall (not advertising, just to say a big thanks folks for letting us come along and see it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ). We just happened to be in the right place on the Eastern side of the "exclusion zone" when the fleet tacked after the start and came through the spectator boats right near us. We followed them up the beat to the bridge and watched Pirates pull a blinding right-flank manouvre to go from well back at the start to second at the windward mark. What a spectacle, they are amazing boats, helicopters everywhere, spectator boats everywhere. I shot a pile of video and SWMBO was taking stills - I'll try and post some shots once I've had time to download it all.

What a way to spend a Sunday - can't be beat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Stellagirl - were you out there?

Cheers

Neil

 

[StellaGirl]

Re: Volvo\'s on the Chesapeake

I was working the start from RHQ.

 

[Saguday]

Re: Volvo\'s on the Chesapeake

Well, it was a great sight from the water

Hope the sponsors were happy with it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Did you ever get your charter sail on the Bay???

 

[Saguday]

Re: Volvo\'s on the Chesapeake

Ooops, slight factual error there, Pirates was actually third at the windward mark but seems to have taken the lead as at this post.

Just checked the pics at the Volvo Ocean Race site but can't see our boat on there or us waving madly at the choppers, which is a bit disappointing /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif We were just to the left in the shot taken behind the bridge.

Brunel was bringing up the tail of the fleet and we found ourselves overhauled by her, she basically tacked round us to get to the mark (and no, we weren't in the way) so we got some clear views of the foredeck crew at work. They're such cool boats.

Neil

 

[Saguday]

Re: Volvo\'s on the Chesapeake

Sorry for the delay, have now uploaded some pics taken by SWMBO from the heaving deck of the Menorquin we were on (the chop from the boats was amazing - my hat is off to marine photographers who get such good shots).

If I get this right you should be able to see the album on Yahoo Photos at Volvo Ocean Race Chesapeake Bay 7 May 06

Never used it before so I hope it works.

Neil