We have successfully resisted the temptation to start at the pin with the gun. Hanging back, making a conservative start, allowed us to watch Berenice roll Steinlager.  We suspect that a hard luff would have ended this had a more aggressive crew  been watching their weather hip.

The ARC crew, clad in their now familiar yellow, were patient observers of a bit of confusion with the correct starting order. Our hats are off to them for a well run event.

There were no less than three tugs exercising their fire control canons.

Berenice looked very good, and quick in the light reaching. We had her doing eleven knots in about the same breeze.

Steinlager looked good as well, but was a step slow, which is to be expected given her IOR shape and age.

Texel 6, confused about when she should start, found herself in the midst of the racing yachts. The Race Committee wisely suggested she continue rather than return and cause even more chaos.

Our neighbors were showing their colors. The guests are going to get plenty of sea time for the fee they have paid, possibly more than they bargained for.

A handsome Botin and Carek design. We like the way the coaming integrates with the aft end of the house. She has good pace in these conditions

Speaking of which, an Open 60 inspired “cruiser”. There is much to study here.

We are not fans of wide sterns, but with this type of design given the wedge shaped plan view, and twin rudders, they can be quick.

Of particular note is the rotating wing spar. Very efficient.

She is one of half a dozen monohulls with square top (fathead) mainsails. If we were doing a sail powered cruising design today we would go this route.

For comparison a conventional high drag triangular shape.

With a very nice asymmetric spinnaker.

The early leader, an Open 40 design. Light, powerful, twin rudders, fathead main, and huge asymmetric.

What lovely twist on the head of the main.

She is doing 9.3 knots per her AIS report, in maybe ten to 11 knots true wind speed. That is a touch slower than the big Swan, but in strong trades we suspect she would horizon everyone, us included. This will almost certainly not come to pass. The first half of the 2680 mile (great circle) passage looks light with a trough producing headwinds a few days to the west. How this is played – dive south towards the Cape Verdes or sail the great circle with a northern bias – is a very difficult decision.

Meanwhile, the fleet is well behind us for now, there are dolphins under our bow, chocolate chip cookies in the oven, and we are about to lose the Vodaphone G3 signal, so we had better close for now.. We will update SetSail on our progress from here on with UUPlus and Iridium.