Vic - Maui Yacht Race - Renegade also beats record

A BRUISED RENEGADE ALSO BREAKS THE RECORD

Bruised and battered, Dan Sinclair's RENEGADE from RVYC has finished ahead of her ETA in Lahaina. She arrived at 0320 this morning, breaking PYEWACKET's old record by over an hour. She crossed the line with tattered sails, the remains of her last spinnaker hanging from the mast-tip. She had to sail to her mooring because she had motor problems. Dan acknowledged "there was carnage". At one time they were going so fast the paint peeled off the boat. They blew out their mainsail, their asymmetrical spinnaker, three other spinnakers, and parted several halyards. One of these flew up when it broke, and took the wind instruments off the top of the mast. Their top speed was 25.5 knots, but they were over 20 knots so many times "you couldn't count them". This gives you some idea of what it's like to crew boats like GRAND ILLUSION and RENEGADE. While conditions may have been ideal for record-setting this year, the boats nevertheless had to be pushed hard for PYEWACKET's record to fall. RENEGADE's story is a graphic example of just how narrow the margins are at the front end of the fleet.

Other boats have had their share of problems too. During the night of July 5, PRAIRIE VOYAGER's rudder failed. This is a significant matter when you are in the middle of the Pacific. Since then, she has been using her emergency rudder, which was brought along for exactly this situation. Today's report indicates she is managing well, and still hopes to finish within her timeline. It explains why she covered only 107 miles today.

Winds remain good (or better) right across the course. The next boats to arrive in Lahaina are due July 09. They include MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (at 0649) and SHOW ME (at 1649) both of which are in Class A, as well as FARR-ARI (at 1858) presently leading Class B, and HMCS ORIOLE (at 2053) presently leading Class D (and likely to be first overall on corrected time). Today ORIOLE put in another great run of 219 miles. She covered more distance in the last 24 hours than any boat still sailing.

PURSUIT (in Class B) is doing exactly what her name implies. She was only nine miles behind FARR-ARI at roll-call. Her ETA is July 10, around 0056. JOIA (Class B), GREY HOUND and NIGHT RUNNER (both in Class C) are all expected to be in by early afternoon the same day. Class C continues to dominate the standings, holding third, fourth, fifth and sixth positions in the entire fleet on corrected time.

Another birthday has been celebrated on the water. This time the cake and party were on DARBY, where Zacharri Tuck has just turned 13.

FASTRACK is proving it is not essential to sail the Vic-Maui with people you already know. Apparently the crew were all strangers prior to the race, but they are functioning as the best of friends. They say much of this is due to Bob Duffy, whose strength of mind, body and character at age 68 has inspired everyone. FASTRACK says they lost another big fish (they claim it was another 500lb marlin). They also report losing a boogey board, and they want someone to please pick it up if they find it.

Our Website address is www.vicmaui.org. Daily Race Reports can be found in its News Center/Daily Reports Section, and there is a Discussion Group in the News Centre/Discussion Group. Local television coverage will be on CHEKtv in Victoria and VTV in Vancouver during their evening news programs.