Race Day 2 Tragedy Monday morning July 18

07-18-11 The storm is still raging and over the VHF come two reports in a row. One report says that there are 8 people in the water about 8 miles behind us. Cannot help but a boat is near....Other report is that a boat has flipped over and that two crew members are under the boat. John Zurn and I are down below listening to this frightening drama play out on the VHF radio. Hats off to the rescue...this was done very professionally by the crew that picked them up...my understanding was that he was the Chairman of the Mac Race this year. I am going to post up the different accounts of both of these events and then a story from Tim Profitt about the 100 mile winds. We were about an hour beyond the Manitou Passage when all this happened. I am going to Post 3 attachments for your use. As for nyanza it blew damn hard...perhaps 50-60 where we were and we sailed on after getting hit with the wind and rain...

Monday Morning after the line went thru Nyanza continues toward Grays Reef with the 3/4 oxz spinnaker thru jibes in light air staring to develop..still making 4-5 knots however and we feel very confident that we are holding our own in class..
Around 0930 we get hit with a little storm cell going into Grays Reef...not enough velocity to help but we move thru the reef at around 5 knots and round grays reef at 1200 hours..high noon....no boats in our class in site and head up to Green 3 turn toward the bridge, do a jibe and off we go at 6 knots and then.....light , light, lighter. Trying to sail to the bridge , only about 118 miles left with lighter boats coming on hard......7 hours to go 18 miles.....so light under the Mac Bridge....we are going around 1.5K....probably .75 was current......for Nyanza the end was in sight and Dandilion, Heritage 1 ton like my old boat Brier Rabbit just kept coming....funny rule, in Lake Erie she gives us time and we rarely beat any Heritage...in this stupid rule that I paid dearly to get....we owed her an hour and a half....so much for screwed up rule systems...NYANZA respectively finished right beside a J35 at 1903hours having completed 289nm. It was a great ride with my two sons...great sailors and great sons..the best 65th birthday present anyone could ask for. Everyone wants to know whats next!!!!!! Stay tuned Nyanza is going cruising for two weeks and I will keep you all up to date. Have great pictures but cannot seem to get them uploaded....Check back....Your Captain Jim