Adios New York!The crews of the Open 60’s Estrella Damm and W-Hotels could not have wished for better weather as they departed New York’s North Cove Marina heading ultimately for home, 3750 miles across the Atlantic through the Straits of Gibraltar and up the Mediterranean to Barcelona.08/04/2010 06:07
Adios New York!The crews of the Open 60’s Estrella Damm and W-Hotels could not have wished for better weather as they departed New York’s North Cove Marina heading ultimately for home, 3750 miles across the Atlantic through the Straits of Gibraltar and up the Mediterranean to Barcelona.08/04/2010 06:07 Indeed were it not for the imposing, iconic Manhattan skyline as a constant reminder this is New York, you could have been forgiven for thinking the warm spring, shirtsleeves weather was much more reminiscent of the Catalan capital, Barcelona.
The mood was quietly relaxed and without major fanfare. The farewell was warm and passionate from families, friends, supporters and organisers in the pleasant spring sunshine.
Around the compact yacht harbour on the edge of New York’s financial district, the beating heart of the city which never sleeps, and one which has witnessed very many historic sailing departures over the year, there was scarcely a breeze but the crews of both boats know that brisk winds were awaiting them as soon as they traverse the lower Bay. The scene, one of quiet anticipation as the six co-skippers said their farewells and headed out for the Atlantic.
“It has all been going very well and now we are just ready to get on with it. The weather is looking very good for us, just what we wanted. We are leaving with a good frontal system which will give us some fast sailing. We are very happy with it, perfect conditions really.” Smiled Pepe Ribes (ESP) co-skipper of Estrella Damm. “We are looking forward to sailing with Stan. We have made a watch system where he will play an equal part for the first few days, we will be looking at how he goes, so we will see how we get on with that.”
The two American co-skippers, one on board either boat, could not wait to get going. Their respective experiences are very different. Estrella Damm’s Stan Schreyer (USA) is much more of a inshore racing sailor, with a two Tornado catamaran Olympic campaigns under his belt, but this adventure will be new to him, W-Hotels Peter Becker is a dyed in the wool ocean racer including experience of many of the world’s blue water classic offshores
“We are ready. I feel really good, I slept really well and today, yes, there are a couple of butterflies there in my stomach, but I know I am in very good hands. The forecast for the first four days look quick and I am just fine with that. I had a nice meal last night, took in a little baseball. I am kind of going into this a little dumb, not really knowing what it’ll be like, but I am cool with that.” “The freeze dried food is really not too bad, but Alex was taking some off the boat yesterday and we only have food for 18 days and so we had better get there quick!”
Peter Becker (USA), despite his many ocean racing miles, sounded just as excited with the prospects of what lies ahead on W-Hotels: “The mood is really just fantastic. It is always a bit nerve wracking in any ocean race until you are off the dock and the sails are up, and from there it all falls into place. We will be pushing really hard..” “These are two boats which are owned by the same ‘family’ if you like, but it’s a competitive family, which is really great. So we will be pushing each other really hard, but it is always good to know there is another boat out there with you.” “Stan and I are from very different backgrounds and there is a friendly rivalry between us. But, we have been sharing what we can with each other. If there is anything that I feel he might want to know, or would be useful to him that he knows, then I have shared what I can with him” “But,” Becker closes ominously, “this is a horse race and we are out to win.”