Dolmer, Bekking og Kirketerp over Atlanten
Bouwe Bekking startede mandag i Trans Atlantic Race på Tenerife. Her giver prof-sejleren fra Nordsjælland en eksklusiv rapport til minbaad.dk. Tekst er på engelsk.
Racing the transat together with Jens Dolmer onboard Nilaya. Not to confuse with the ARC Rally, this is a real race, no engine allowed!
It is the first time going across for the owner and a couple of his friends, so he wanted to do it in a race, 4 permanent and a couple of pro's, who in beteen them have 17 round the world races done.
As well using this as an opportunity to test a couple of the crew for the upcoming volvo race, in case we get a team on the water.
Lavtryk
Tricky conditions leaving as a low pressure system is right over Tenerife when we start. Most likely heading straight north, northwest finding the shift and tack holding a westerly course, in 30- 35 knots winddirection from the north.
Of course this is a cruising boat, firstly we have to get the boat in one piece on the other side so we will be carefull the first 40 hours, as then the breeze is going aft and gennaker conditions around 20 knots.
Martin Kirketerp hos konkurrent
Latest routing has us in Virgin Gords just over 9 days. Aim is to win on handicap, as Leopard is in the race as well, they should be much quicker than us dowind, weighing half.
During last racing in st tropez, we beat them twice on the water and in a offshore everything can happen, Leopard is chartered by Ran owner, they have a top crew onboard as well.
But we should have a real close race with Sojana, a 115 ft ketch, with Martin Kirketerp onboard, running reaching they have way more sailarea than us. Once finished in carib, Nilaya's next race is in february: the caribbean 600.
Cheers, Bouwe
Bouwe Bekking, 49, fra Holland, dansk gift, lever af at sejle. Han var senest skipper på Telefonica i Volvo Ocean Race i 2009.