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ONBOARD CARD 05 - Inside the Gulf Stream

Phase: From north wall entry to south wall exit Typical elapsed time: 8–18h inside the Stream (boat-speed and current dependent) Location: Approximately 35°N to 38.5°N (varies by year)

UNFAMILIAR BOAT NOTES - READ THIS FIRST

This crew is racing Lupo Di Mare together for the first time. The following protocols are adjusted for that reality.

1. You are in the sail you entered with. Stay in it. The decision was made at the north wall (see Card 04). The sail that went into the Stream is the sail that crosses the Stream. Do not initiate a peel inside the Stream unless the current sail presents an active safety risk. "We might be faster on the A3" is not a safety risk. "The A2-1 is about to blow out in 30 kts" is a safety risk. If wind builds to crossover, dump the halyard and go bare-headed rather than attempting a full peel in the Stream.

2. Every crew member on deck is clipped in. No exceptions. The Stream produces confused, steep, short-period chop that is unlike anything encountered in the first 24 hours of the race. People lose their footing. Anyone going forward - for any reason - is clipped to a jackline before they step off the cockpit coaming. This rule applies even for a 10-second trip to the bow.

3. The first time you do a maneuver offshore at night is not the right time. If a kite douse or a reef has not been practiced in race week, the bar for initiating it inside the Stream is very high. See point 1: default to the conservative sail. If you must douse the kite, call all hands, do it methodically, do not rush it. A partial douse with a sail in the water is worse than a careful 5-minute douse.

4. Squall protocol is not negotiable. Radar echo within 20 nm: kite comes down. Radar echo within 10 nm or visible lightning: reef #1 goes in, all crew clips in, non-watch crew is called. If the squall drill was not completed in race week, use a more conservative threshold - 30 nm echo = douse kite. Do not wait to see how fast the squall is moving.

5. If you are uncertain about the maneuver, take the conservative sail and accept the speed loss. Inside the Gulf Stream, the penalty for getting a maneuver wrong is not "we lose 5 minutes." It is potentially a crew injury, a blown sail, or a rigging incident in the most demanding conditions of the race. Slow down, be safe, keep the boat moving. There are still 300–400 nm to Bermuda after the Stream.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Cross the Stream safely and efficiently. Maximize favorable current, minimize adverse current exposure, avoid squalls, protect gear and crew, and exit on the correct latitude for the post-Stream leg.

DATA TO CHECK

Every 30 minutes: - GPS speed (SOG) vs log (STW): difference = net current vector. Record this. It should be increasing as you move into the core. - Water temperature: note every 30 min or at any vessel speed change. Core of Stream is often warmest. - Radar: check for convective echoes. Inside the Stream, development can be rapid (10 min cycles).

Every hour: - Course made good (CMG): are you being set? Are you compensating correctly? - Update dead reckoning position for current set - Check: are you on track to exit at the planned latitude?

Every 3–4 hours: - Re-examine the pre-loaded routing analysis for this crossing: is observed current matching what was predicted? - If current is significantly different from forecast, what does that mean for the post-stream exit latitude and the strategy?

TRIM / SAIL IMPLICATIONS

Core of the Stream (maximum current zone): - This is NOT the time for aggressive sail selection changes - Prioritize the sail that is working NOW; a mid-stream peel is high-risk - If wind is building and you are at a crossover: go conservative - take the sail down now - If you dropped a reef pre-entry: you're probably fine; resist shaking it out in the core

Squall management (see also Card 09): - At ANY squall echo within 20 nm: douse the kite if flying one - Reef #1 should already be in the mast (pre-rigged) during daylight in the Stream; no exception at night - The 15–30 minute squall gust at 35–45 kts with a kite up can end your race

TACTICAL OPTIONS

  1. Track the favorable current core - using GPS/log vector, steer to maximize northward-set; cross efficiently
  2. Follow north wall - if CCR western limb: stay tight to north wall for additional favorable current before diving S
  3. Cut straight south - if adverse current: get through the core as fast as possible; extra distance costs less than more time in adverse current
  4. Angle for the exit latitude - if current set is pushing you off your planned exit: correct heading to compensate

Important geometry: The Stream flows NE. If you are heading south (160–180°T), the current vector is adding a NE component to your actual position. You will be set ENE of your intended track if you don't compensate. Plan for this before entry; confirm GPS/CMG offset.

RED FLAGS

  • GPS/log delta showing >4.5 kts adverse current: you are in a meander or you entered the wrong lane - immediate navigator attention
  • Water temperature drops rapidly while still in intended current zone: you may have crossed into a cold-core ring's interior - check position immediately
  • Any change in wave character from running/reaching to steep choppy: wind-against-current is developing - reduce sail conservatively NOW
  • Squall gust >30 kts: kite down is not optional at this point - it should already be down if you followed Card 04
  • Any crew member showing signs of extreme fatigue, confusion, or physical distress: all hands wake, safety first

DECISION THRESHOLD

If the crossing is taking significantly longer than predicted (>2h over estimate): - Likely cause: stronger adverse current, or wind shift - If adverse current: consider angling 20–30° toward the favorable side (west or east depending on situation) - If wind shift unfavorable: update the strategy for the post-Stream leg - things may have changed

If crossing is faster than expected: - Good news; however, confirm exit latitude is still correct relative to the post-Stream plan - Don't exit too far east or west of the planned post-Stream waypoint

WHO GETS WOKEN UP

  • All watch: stream entry, any squall echo within 20 nm, any water temperature change >5°F in 5 nm
  • Navigator: any GPS/log current >1.5 kts different from pre-race forecast, or squall echo within 10 nm
  • Skipper: squall contact or any gear issue

Stream Crossing Log (fill as you go)

UTC time Lat Lon SST °F SOG STW Current (calc) Wind TWS/TWA Notes
Entry
Core
Exit

PRE-RACE RESEARCH - NOT race-period routing advice