Leg 12 From
Hatteras, North Carolina toKill Devil Hills, North Carolina -- with a scheduled 10 AM Start
Winds were forcasted four different way by four different sources and they were probably all correct. In other words there was very little wind and on God knew where it was going to come from.
   While the surf was not large by Hatteras standards, it was still a monster go get through in the light winds. |
 Spitfire continued to get bashed as it tried to get through the curlers. Guidant in the right side of the picture excaped cleanly. |
The Start! They're Off and Ghosting!
For the start the wind was from the northeast and paralleling the beach from left to right as you look out to sea. While the surf was barely minimal for Hatteras standards, the light air and the rollers made it really tough for the boats to get out. And sure as heck, a roller pushed Cat Fever backwards and bang! there goes another rudder casting. Australia also had trouble with the mainsail masthead lock -- the sail started to come down, so they also returned to the beach. Both teams were soon back out and in the hunt.
We were able to get on the beach about 3 miles up from the start. The boats were basically sailing close-hauled toward Cape Hatteras, some 8 miles upwind to them. Alexanders was closest to shore and looked good. They started getting a little too close to the shore so tacked back to port. It was then the wind took a big lift for the starboard boats (more to the east, or rotating to the right) which meant a big header for Alexanders. And so all the fleet that was to the right of them got ahead. Thus the old rule of thumb, "If the wind shifts right, go right."
At the point of the shift the most inside boat was Tommy Bahama who quickly took the lead and never let go all the way to the cape. Guidant was the next, followed by Sail for Sight. Alexanders slipped into 10th place as they now tacked back to starboard on the layline to Cape Hatteras.
The light winds continued to clock to the right more as the boats arrived at the cape packed with cheering sailors and jeering fishermen (although much nicer than the year they used Randy Smyth's sails for target casting practice).
  The Piss-ups were banging away at all the boats. These are some of the smoother passages around the cape. |
Here was this sleeping giant of a hazard -- Cape Hatteras and Diamond Shoals -- supposed calm. But there is no such thing as calm to this beast. It just lays there awaiting some unsuspecting sailor or boater to come near and then reaches out it claws of froth and, with its strong watery talons, crushes them into tiny bobbing croutons to feast upon.
 Guidant found some smoother water and reached through the lee of Tommy Bahama to capture the lead |
With little wind these pictures tell most of the story. Can you imagine what this washing machine area would look like in a blow? It can be unfathonable.
The hazards of the area certainly include the shoals and turbulent waves, but there are unexpected geysers that squirt 30 to 50 in the air for no apparent reason and you never know where or when they will happen. They are a result of two major ocean currents bashing heads on this shoal area. Locals call them "piss-ups."
Tommy Bahama was the first boat there but hit a few piss-ups and was stopped and stalled. Guidant saw some flat water, eased their sails and reached through the lee of Tommy Bahama, popped the chute and took a commanding lead.
 Guidant kept it moving through the tough stuff, while Tommy Bahama seemed to everything stalled out and not moving in the turmoil. |
 Sail for Sight also overhauls Tommy Bahama and was reported to have the lead as of 2 PM |
  Key Sailing with the yellow hulls catches a wave and some smooth water and also makes a pass to leeward. |
  Tybee Island was the first to pop the chute before passing by the rough stuff. The wind had clocked more to the right. This also gave them a little more power to navigate the rough waters of the cape and the shoal. |
 This boat gets the full blast of Piss-up and still survives. Picture this scenario on a windy day. |
Others had lots of problems at the cape, while others just slid on through.
Alexanders is struggling to make a comeback, and did manage to pass three boats at the cape.
At around 2 PM Key Sailing pulled into Avon, North Carolina, only about 10 miles north of the starting line and pulled out from sheer exhaustion. There is some conversation that they may rest up a bit and get in the hunt again. And they probably would not lose much time as the there wind is very light and none of them have much boat speed.
The ETA is about as up in the air as the weather. They could be in at a reasonable hour, or it could be another really late nighter. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.
  Castrol makes like a Supercross Motorcycler -- They leap.., and then they crash land! |
  Dave White on Earn Your Potential once was a professions motorcrosser so he was right at home! |
  Fully Involved found itself stopped by a Piss-up and then the same waves broadsided them. |
 Lexis Nexis found a very fast way through the mess right next to the shoreline. They were almost too close, but managed to make it. |
    Australia made a big leap but was slammed hard and stopped dead. With the spinnaker up and no boards down the boat slid sideways onto the beach. The skipper pushed it off and they were underway again when the Grand-daddy of Piss-ups whacked them. |
   The Dinghy Shop made an MX jump and crash landing, and then the sea gobbled them up |
 With all the trouble the Dinghy Shop was having, Lexis Nexis slipped by close to land and in smooth waters to go ahead. |
 Outer Banks also got blind-sided! |
 Another smashing shot! |
Stand by the for the Finish Here in Kill Devil Hills.
For more up to date news, click on Hot Line Page!
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The winds were almost non-existant late last night as the boats ghosted in. Two teams have dropped out -- Key Sailing and Red Hook Ale. For finish line reports, see our HOT LINE Page!