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V.O.R. Rio de Janeiro & Leg 5
In May 2005, Cayard Sailing Inc's expertise was called upon to project manage the Disney entry in the Volvo Ocean Race. Paul Cayard, the winning skipper from the 1998 Whitbread Round the World Race, proved to be the ideal captain for the Hollywood entry on board The Black Pearl.
Cayard built and led an impressive team, of both sailors and shore crew, who were determined to succeed in this challenging race. Despite the initial setbacks and having to withdraw from Leg 1, the Pirates of the Caribbean climbed from last place in Cape Town to winning the final leg into Gothenburg. Placing a commanding second overall made for a perfect storybook ending for the Pirates of the Caribbean team.
Cayard built and led an impressive team, of both sailors and shore crew, who were determined to succeed in this challenging race. Despite the initial setbacks and having to withdraw from Leg 1, the Pirates of the Caribbean climbed from last place in Cape Town to winning the final leg into Gothenburg. Placing a commanding second overall made for a perfect storybook ending for the Pirates of the Caribbean team.
3/4ers the way up the Chesapeake Bay
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The last 48 hours have been trying. We have been slating in flat calms with huge left over seas, dodging intense electrical storms, and beating upwind in a 30 knot squall. The 120 miles up the Chesapeake was long and slow without much wind during the night. At one point we almost had to anchor to avoid going backwards with the current. The GRIB forecasts have been anything but accurate in these conditions. After two weeks and the last two days in particular, we are ready to get there.
The last 48 hours have been trying. We have been slating in flat calms with huge left over seas, dodging intense electrical storms, and beating upwind in a 30 knot squall. The 120 miles up the Chesapeake was long and slow without much wind during the night. At one point we almost had to anchor to avoid going backwards with the current. The GRIB forecasts have been anything but accurate in these conditions. After two weeks and the last two days in particular, we are ready to get there.
Very cool!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
As Pirates of the Caribbean blasted through the mist off the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, I could hear that fabulous music from the Walt Disney movie in my head. Thanks to the immense help of Kimo Worthington, Mitch Brindley and Brian McCauley, we had arrived at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel about 10 minutes before Pirates was about to pass through. Skipper Paul Cayard, who is a long time friend, was allowing me to race up the Chesapeake Bay on his Volvo Open 70. Very cool!
As Pirates of the Caribbean blasted through the mist off the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, I could hear that fabulous music from the Walt Disney movie in my head. Thanks to the immense help of Kimo Worthington, Mitch Brindley and Brian McCauley, we had arrived at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel about 10 minutes before Pirates was about to pass through. Skipper Paul Cayard, who is a long time friend, was allowing me to race up the Chesapeake Bay on his Volvo Open 70. Very cool!
Fluky winds yesterday
Sunday, April 16, 2006
It was a long a tedious day yesterday as we crawled our way through the high pressure ridge. Fluky winds with maximum gusts of 5 knots were the norm for about 10 hours. We managed just 77 miles in 12 hours during the middle of the day. Everyone had to go through it and everyone took their turn losing miles on the way in (lighter winds in the high) then gaining them back on the way out.
It was a long a tedious day yesterday as we crawled our way through the high pressure ridge. Fluky winds with maximum gusts of 5 knots were the norm for about 10 hours. We managed just 77 miles in 12 hours during the middle of the day. Everyone had to go through it and everyone took their turn losing miles on the way in (lighter winds in the high) then gaining them back on the way out.
Cayard Cruise Lines
Sunday, April 16, 2006
When Paul and Kimo called last May and told me Paul was starting a Pirates themed division of Disney Cruise lines I didn't hesitate to sign on. Paul said it would be great. Exotic locations, skull and cross bones and a bigger faster boat with less guys, wine steward and wheel chair accessible foredeck. This will be great!
When Paul and Kimo called last May and told me Paul was starting a Pirates themed division of Disney Cruise lines I didn't hesitate to sign on. Paul said it would be great. Exotic locations, skull and cross bones and a bigger faster boat with less guys, wine steward and wheel chair accessible foredeck. This will be great!
A Day of Change
Friday, April 14, 2006
It has been a day of change. We have sailed through a large mass of cloud that is the remnant of a decaying cold front. It was probably 200 miles wide as seen from the satellite pictures. Under this clouds deck, the winds were variable. One minute we were sailing upwind in light wind and ten minutes later we were planning downwind with 25 knots of wind in a torrential downpour of rain.
It has been a day of change. We have sailed through a large mass of cloud that is the remnant of a decaying cold front. It was probably 200 miles wide as seen from the satellite pictures. Under this clouds deck, the winds were variable. One minute we were sailing upwind in light wind and ten minutes later we were planning downwind with 25 knots of wind in a torrential downpour of rain.
Virtual Tour of The Black Pearl.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Join Kimo Worthington, General Manager of The Pirates of the Caribbean for a virtual tour of The Black Pearl.
Join Kimo Worthington, General Manager of The Pirates of the Caribbean for a virtual tour of The Black Pearl.
What a day!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
What a day! It all started off just as great as yesterday ended. The Pearl making gains on the competition, nice easy trade winds sailing, warm and sunny. Then in a one hour period, the spinnaker we had trouble with yesterday started parting at the seams after 30 minutes of use. Take it down, put up something else and Justin and Dirk out of the watch system for the third time in three days.
What a day! It all started off just as great as yesterday ended. The Pearl making gains on the competition, nice easy trade winds sailing, warm and sunny. Then in a one hour period, the spinnaker we had trouble with yesterday started parting at the seams after 30 minutes of use. Take it down, put up something else and Justin and Dirk out of the watch system for the third time in three days.
Progress
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Progress onboard the Black Pearl has been going well over the past 48 hours. We got out of out weak angles and into our fast sails. We have managed to put miles on almost everyone including ABN1 at times. The conditions are reaching with masthead gennaker at 130-135 True Wind Angle in 16-22 knots of wind. We do get the occasional squall with winds up to 30 knots and this usually comes with a 10 degree header for the first hour and then a 10 degree lift for the second hour.
Progress onboard the Black Pearl has been going well over the past 48 hours. We got out of out weak angles and into our fast sails. We have managed to put miles on almost everyone including ABN1 at times. The conditions are reaching with masthead gennaker at 130-135 True Wind Angle in 16-22 knots of wind. We do get the occasional squall with winds up to 30 knots and this usually comes with a 10 degree header for the first hour and then a 10 degree lift for the second hour.
Why have we been slow?
Monday, April 10, 2006
We had been stressed about our lack of speed for long enough. Brasil1 kept putting miles on us and Ericsson was getting closer. Even though we could not see anything on the keel or rudder, we decided the only way to get the possibility that there was something still on there was to stop the boat and send a couple of guys in. A few days ago we hooked a long line that seemed to have all come off but we started talking ourselves into all kinds of possibilities like maybe there is still a piece of monofilament line on there that we can't see, or that maybe there was some damage to the bottom of the hull that we could not see with the endoscope.
We had been stressed about our lack of speed for long enough. Brasil1 kept putting miles on us and Ericsson was getting closer. Even though we could not see anything on the keel or rudder, we decided the only way to get the possibility that there was something still on there was to stop the boat and send a couple of guys in. A few days ago we hooked a long line that seemed to have all come off but we started talking ourselves into all kinds of possibilities like maybe there is still a piece of monofilament line on there that we can't see, or that maybe there was some damage to the bottom of the hull that we could not see with the endoscope.
Pretty frustrating
Sunday, April 09, 2006
We have had Brasil in sight all day and they have been making slow but steady gains on us. We have tried everything, different sails, different trim and shapes, different helmsmen. They are just 1 mile away so we can see what sails they have up and they appear to be the same as ours but yet, they are going a bit faster. They will pass us very soon. Pretty frustrating. Hopefully the wind angle or wind speed will change soon and we get a better match up against them.
We have had Brasil in sight all day and they have been making slow but steady gains on us. We have tried everything, different sails, different trim and shapes, different helmsmen. They are just 1 mile away so we can see what sails they have up and they appear to be the same as ours but yet, they are going a bit faster. They will pass us very soon. Pretty frustrating. Hopefully the wind angle or wind speed will change soon and we get a better match up against them.
Stressful couple of days
Saturday, April 08, 2006
It was a stressful couple of days for us on the Pearl. The boat was not going very fast and we tried everything to get her going but to no avail. We also did get hit by more than our fair share of "parking lots" partly our fault and partly bad luck. Our competitors kept gaining on us and Ericsson was threatening to pass us last night just before the scoring gate at Noronha.
It was a stressful couple of days for us on the Pearl. The boat was not going very fast and we tried everything to get her going but to no avail. We also did get hit by more than our fair share of "parking lots" partly our fault and partly bad luck. Our competitors kept gaining on us and Ericsson was threatening to pass us last night just before the scoring gate at Noronha.
The wind was light
Friday, April 07, 2006
It was a tough day for us on the Black Pearl. We started off the day getting caught under one of those large clouds and parking for an hour.
It was a tough day for us on the Black Pearl. We started off the day getting caught under one of those large clouds and parking for an hour.
That cost us 5 miles. Then the wind speed and direction were bad for us as we don't have a sail that is fast for those conditions. So we lost quite a few miles over several skeds and it was frustrating.
A Light and Variable Day
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
It was a light a variable day today with winds as light as 3 knots. There is always a lot of anxiety when you have that little wind as you wonder what everyone else has. Today we had to fight our way through a large cell of little to no wind in order to hook into the trades.
It was a light a variable day today with winds as light as 3 knots. There is always a lot of anxiety when you have that little wind as you wonder what everyone else has. Today we had to fight our way through a large cell of little to no wind in order to hook into the trades.
This a high stakes game
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Russian Roulette is more like it than sailing. Large clouds dominate the scene and the wind is light and variable. When it is this light, and while you are making the best of what you have, you can't help thinking that the other guys have more wind than you do. You don't ever really know where they are heading and you only know where they are once every six hours. So making decision about where to position your boat is tough. You almost have to just play the wind you have without regard to the fleet which makes this a high stakes game.
Russian Roulette is more like it than sailing. Large clouds dominate the scene and the wind is light and variable. When it is this light, and while you are making the best of what you have, you can't help thinking that the other guys have more wind than you do. You don't ever really know where they are heading and you only know where they are once every six hours. So making decision about where to position your boat is tough. You almost have to just play the wind you have without regard to the fleet which makes this a high stakes game.
Dodging Large Clouds
Monday, April 03, 2006
I just logged the 1600UTC sked. Like many of you, I noticed that the positions were basically the same as they were 6 hours ago. So, one could imagine that we have been just trundling along here, happy as can be.
I just logged the 1600UTC sked. Like many of you, I noticed that the positions were basically the same as they were 6 hours ago. So, one could imagine that we have been just trundling along here, happy as can be.
It was a very friendly send off
Sunday, April 02, 2006
It was a very friendly send off at the dock this morning. Many fans were on hand at Marina Gloria to say good bye to the fleet. The Brazilians were great hosts and did a fantastic job with the stopover.
It was a very friendly send off at the dock this morning. Many fans were on hand at Marina Gloria to say good bye to the fleet. The Brazilians were great hosts and did a fantastic job with the stopover.
The Black Pearl commander Paul Cayard and his crew of Pirates played host to 500 yellow-shirted, sword-wielding Grumetes at the Marina da Gloria today in Rio de Janeiro
Monday, March 27, 2006
The third Grumetes - cabin boys in Spanish, girls too we hope - and Pescanova Pirates Day of the race so far proved to be a lively affair with a cacophony of drum beats, roaring cheers and cannon fire, accompanying a spectacular display of dancing and gymnastics from the Circo Popular do Brasil and the bateria mirim of Unidos da Tijuca's samba school.
The third Grumetes - cabin boys in Spanish, girls too we hope - and Pescanova Pirates Day of the race so far proved to be a lively affair with a cacophony of drum beats, roaring cheers and cannon fire, accompanying a spectacular display of dancing and gymnastics from the Circo Popular do Brasil and the bateria mirim of Unidos da Tijuca's samba school.
Bad days happen
Saturday, March 25, 2006
It was a tough day for the Pirates today. The conditions on the Rio harbor were excellent with steady winds of 14-18 knots. The spectators were numerous and very enthusiastic
It was a tough day for the Pirates today. The conditions on the Rio harbor were excellent with steady winds of 14-18 knots. The spectators were numerous and very enthusiastic
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
The Pirates of the Caribbean team celebrated their second place arrival into Rio de Janiero in style at an elegant cocktail reception hosted by Ermenegildo Zegna on 21 March.
The Pirates of the Caribbean team celebrated their second place arrival into Rio de Janiero in style at an elegant cocktail reception hosted by Ermenegildo Zegna on 21 March.
I am onboard UA 843 en route from SFO to Rio.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
I have had a good week at home in San Francisco and am ready to get back into the Volvo Ocean Race. My week was a mix of work and rest, the perfect mix for me. The unexpected chore (forgotten might be more appropriate term) was to prepare my taxes. I came to this ugly realization on the flight from Rio to SFO. Talk about a bubble bursting revelation. For all Americans, this is an annual pain in the back side that occurs in April. Since I wont be home between now and April 15, I had to take it on last week. Done and gone.
I have had a good week at home in San Francisco and am ready to get back into the Volvo Ocean Race. My week was a mix of work and rest, the perfect mix for me. The unexpected chore (forgotten might be more appropriate term) was to prepare my taxes. I came to this ugly realization on the flight from Rio to SFO. Talk about a bubble bursting revelation. For all Americans, this is an annual pain in the back side that occurs in April. Since I wont be home between now and April 15, I had to take it on last week. Done and gone.
Cayard inspires future Olympians at St Francis Yacht Club Dinner & Auction
Monday, March 20, 2006
Paul Cayard made a special stop at the St Francis Yacht Club for the annual Olympian Support Committee Dinner & Auction, during his brief visit home between Legs 4 and 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Paul updated the full house on the Pirate team's adventures thus far aboard The Black Pearl. On display in the lobby was Paul's winning trophy from the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World Race. Together with fellow auctioneers Bob Billingham and Russ Silvestri, the auction raised funds in support of StFYC Members striving for gold in Olympic Sailing.
Paul Cayard made a special stop at the St Francis Yacht Club for the annual Olympian Support Committee Dinner & Auction, during his brief visit home between Legs 4 and 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Paul updated the full house on the Pirate team's adventures thus far aboard The Black Pearl. On display in the lobby was Paul's winning trophy from the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World Race. Together with fellow auctioneers Bob Billingham and Russ Silvestri, the auction raised funds in support of StFYC Members striving for gold in Olympic Sailing.
The Black Pearl's in Pretty Good Shape
Sunday, March 19, 2006
I'm writing this week's report from the Pirate's base in Marina da Gloria, Rio de Janeiro. Following on from our strong finish into Rio, the team is upbeat and determined to continue our move up the leader board.
I'm writing this week's report from the Pirate's base in Marina da Gloria, Rio de Janeiro. Following on from our strong finish into Rio, the team is upbeat and determined to continue our move up the leader board.
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