Beowulf leaving Norfolk, VA on her way to the BVI at the start of the 2001 Caribbean 1500.
She’s cruising along at 16 knots. Her windward ballast tanks are filled with sea water, she is upright, comfortable, and ever so easy for the two of us to sail.
The full width main and mizzen travelers made jibing a controlled affair, and the canting bowsprit brought the code zero reacher or spinnaker far enough to weather that we did not need to bother with spinnaker poles. Although Beowulf was strictly a cruising yacht, with washer and dryer, a lovely interior, and all the usual piles of cruising stuff, she was still quick. That speed kept us out of bad weather, and allowed us to hang with favorable conditions.
On this five day three hour passage, Beowulf set a Caribbean 1500 record that still stands.
We are anchored above in Dehais, Guadaloupe, before the start of the Guadeloupe to Antigua feeder race. That’s the mighty Mari Cha III anchored alongside. In 1999 Mari Cha had taken an hour off the race record, making the 42 N passage in three hours and ten minutes, a time that everyone thought would stand for years.
We were hanging out in Antigua in 2000, when on the spur of the moment we decided to take part in the race from Guadaloupe. The breeze was backed a little from the norm, and sailing with son-in-law Todd Beveridge as crew, we smoked across the course in three hours and five minutes, breaking Mari Cha’s record, to the surprise of everyone, including the race committee who barely arrived in time to record our finish.
In 2001 we did the race again, now with Mari Cha on hand. In 14 to 16 knots of NE breeze, reaching, she waterlined us, putting 30 minutes on the diminutive Beowulf. She owed us an hour on handicap, so we won overall on corrected time, but then we have always believed the first boat to finish wins the race.
We were much more concerned with passage times under cruising conditions than the odd race. Our most memorable trip in this regard was Nuka Hiva, Marquesas, to San Diego, roughly 2850 miles against the trades. The two of us did this passage in 12 days and three hours, using a pair of hurricanes to slingshot ourselves along the way. You can watch a video of this passage below.
Fast is fun, and you get there quicker too.
Post script: Beowulf was on average 25 NM a day faster on tradewind passages than the FPB 83 Wind Horse. Only the FPB 97 Iceberg equals her average time. But not even Iceberg could stay with Beowulf if the breeze was fresh.
Posted by Steve Dashew (February 8, 2016)
February 8th, 2016 at 10:09 pm
I remember the horizon just you pulled in the Caribbean 1500 very well. You had a late start due to what I recall was a halyard issue and yet you passed everyone by the time reached the mouth of the Chesapeake. Then you were simply gone. WOW! We were in the BVI’s well well over a day behind you.
Cheers
Don
February 8th, 2016 at 10:10 pm
I remember the horizon job you pulled in the Caribbean 1500 very well. You had a late start due to what I recall was a halyard issue and yet you passed everyone by the time reached the mouth of the Chesapeake. Then you were simply gone. WOW! We were in the BVI’s well well over a day behind you.
Cheers
Don
(minor typo in the previous comment)
February 9th, 2016 at 2:02 pm
I have always admired Beowulf since reading about your exploits with her. Were any sister ships like her ever built, and if not, why do you suppose no one ever commissioned another?
February 10th, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Hi Rod:
Beowulf was to have been our last boat. We did a semi-sister, Kondor, for friends, but otherwise were done with the boat business…at least that’s what we thought then. Many folks have asked about sisterships, but we have not had the time or inclination.
February 11th, 2016 at 6:39 pm
Steve,
I too remember the horizon job ya’ll did on the 1500 fleet. I was on ‘Seventh Wave’ — and though she was quick and nimble, she had nothing on Beowulf. Truly an amazing boat. Glad you decided to get back into the business, though! Following the design and birth of Wind Horse and now the entire FPB series has been a thoroughly enjoyable education on the art and science of creating high-function vessels that aren’t afraid to break with accepted ‘wisdom.’
Best,
Karl
February 15th, 2016 at 10:03 am
Thanks Karl:
Beowulf was our favorite sailboat of all time, and faster in the trades than even 115′ FPB Iceberg. But the days of being able to sail her aggressively by ourselves were coming to an end when we decided to do the FPB Wind Horse. At the time we were ambivalent about going to the “dark side” but we’ve mellowed and have to admit that the FPB allows us to do things we’d not contemplate under sail.