Newport for Volvo race

[Jim Walsh]

Nice report, Steve

[Steve Laume]

Oh, and yes Jim, I did dive to clean the prop and the raw water intake before I left. The prop really wasn't too bad after two years with the cold galvanized spray. Maybe 4 or 5, 1/4" barnacles and some slime. I would have worried about it the entire trip so I'm glad I made the effort and the water really wasn't all that cold, Steve.

[gates_cliff]

I'm a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and when the Volvo Race had a layover in Baltimore, a number of years ago, the Coast Guard called on the Auxiliary to assist with maintaining a perimeter for the boats when they left b'more. Just to give an idea all the patrol boats had to be able cruise at 20 knots. Usually when on a patrol we often just go slow, just prepared to help, etc. well, I quickly realized the need for speed, once they got out of the Inner Harbor they took off like dragsters. We Escorted down past Annapolis, where the spectator fleet really thinned out. I was amazed at how fast they went. Oh, on one of the boats something must have malfunctioned or jammed or tangled up the mast. Now most of us would find a calm place to anchor and maybe get someone that would go up the mast. NOOOO, not these guys, they kept going like a bat out of hell and a crewman was hoisted up the mast while underway ! He must have taken care of whatever it was, because once he came down they accelerated like a sports car. Mind you the wind was probably 20 knots or so.

[Steve Laume]

Finally up loaded some more of my pictures. This is one of Raven following the fleet as they left Newport. Old news now, Steve.

[pete faga]

Glad to see SCA won the last leg from Lisbon to Lorient
After being last most of the other legs.The girls kicked derrière