Velvet Hammer Grabs the Broom

Perhaps we spoke too soon. When we checked the standings this morning, we found that James Nichols' Velvet Hammer has unseated Lucky Duck for the forecast Clean Sweep (First in division, ORR, and Pacific Cup) with an anticipated crossing time of under eight and a half days.

In the PHRF 1 Division, Michael Johnson's Vera Cruz has nosed out in front of the Cal 40s, with an eta barely half an hour corrected in front of his next challenger, Azure.

Winds in the mid-Pacific are strong, with forecasts in the steady 20s and reports of steady low 30s. This weather allows some dramatic speed runs, but also puts a lot of strain on the boats. We've been collecting a lot of damage reports, generally modest, and all within the skills of the well-equipped boats on the course. However, these gear breakdowns can materially affect a boat's speed as the crew tends to repairs or "babys" the boat to avoid further damage. In many cases, winning your division can be a matter of being the last boat to have a failure!

To date, neither Lucky Duck, nor Velvet Hammer (nor Saga or Glass Slipper, close behind) have reported any such issues. We wish them and all the racers a swift and safe second half of the race.