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ONBOARD CARD 02 — Offshore Approach

Phase: Block Island to ~34°N, first full offshore passage segment. Typical elapsed time: Race start +12 h to +30 h

TL;DR

  • First night offshore = sail conservative after dark. Smaller-of-doubt rule applies.
  • Watch handoffs must transfer situational awareness verbally AND in the log.
  • No kite hoist or douse at night unless drilled ≥2 times in daylight.
  • 85–90% polar VMG is normal for race week 1 — benchmark improvement, not absolute polars.
  • All hands for any non-routine maneuver in the first 24 h.
  • T+24 h: reconfirm Gulf Stream entry plan — last chance for major routing adjustment.

DATA TO CHECK

Every 3–6 hours: - Actual wind speed/direction vs pre-race forecast - Boat speed vs polar target — within 8%? If not, why? - Current: GPS/log delta — any current sets from the continental shelf edge?

At ~36 h: - Is the Stream north wall where predicted? (use pre-loaded SST overlay if available) - Is the crossing window still the same? - Does the routing strategy need revision? - Brief Skipper on any change before committing to the offshore strategy.

TRIM / SAIL

Condition Priority
Night, <10 kts Conservative sail — do not chase marginal gains with kite in the dark
Night, squall risk No kite at night in Gulf Stream region
Day, steady 12–20 kts Optimize aggressively — this is the max-performance window
Building breeze Downsize before overpowered, not after
Fading breeze Upsize before losing pace, but not so early you trigger a needless peel

RED FLAGS

  • Boat speed >10% below polar target for >3 hours: check bottom (fouling?), sails (blown?), rig (anything loose?)
  • Wind angle making current routing non-viable: notify Navigator immediately
  • Crew health issue (serious seasickness, injury, extreme fatigue): assess watch strength; may need to simplify sail plan for next 12 h

DECISION THRESHOLD

At T+24 h — reconfirm or revise the Gulf Stream entry plan: - Is forecast-to-actual match good enough to trust the stream crossing plan? - Are boats on the other side of the fleet faster or slower than expected? - Does the current weather pattern suggest a different crossing latitude?

If all three: no change → proceed. Any one suggests a change → brief Skipper now.