Bermuda 1-2: Class 40 crew de-brief
The Bermuda 1-2 is the oldest short-handed race on the East Coast. Held every 2 years on the odd year, it was first run in 1977. It is a solo race from Newport (R.I) to Bermuda and then a double-handed race back to Newport. Sailors from this race, and the O.S.T.A.R., gave birth in the early 1908’s to the then named B.O.C which became the Around Alone & is now the Velux 5 oceans and so the Bermuda 1-2 might also be rightly known as the spiritual Grand father to the Vendee globe.
Bermuda 1-2 And O.S.T.A.R: Offshore sailing, Heavy weather sails & rigging
Even thought the Bermuda 1-2 and the O.S.T.A.R are billed as races, the main common underlying theme is a short-handed offshore passage, one of 650-700 miles the other of something closer to 3500.
Bermuda 1-2. Offshore, short-handed
The third article reviewing some of the boats and equipment I saw at the start of the Bermuda 1-2 race earlier in June. As with the earlier posts, most of the images are courtesy of my old mate Don Miller. www.donmillerphotography
Bermuda 1-2: offshore passage making
On Friday 05 June, the 17th edition the Bermuda 1-2 set off from Newport harbor, bound towards Bermuda. This photo essay attempts to highlight some of the boats and the details I noticed aboard them as they pertain to offshore sailing, solo. The return, double-handed leg starts from Bermuda on 18 June.
Short handed sailing: Bermuda 1-2 Weather and sleep seminars
Apart from preparing the boat the two most important issues to be considered when contemplating an offshore passage, short handed or otherwise, are weather information gathering and analysis and managing the crew's fatigue/sleep arrangements. The latter being especially important when sail solo.
Bermuda 1-2 March meeting: Practicallysailing.com announces sponsorship of race tracking
One of the behind the scene's activities we have been working for a while is to try and spread the word about our website.
Short handed in the ocean: How heavy is your cockpit?
One of the bigger issues most folks don't realize is just how much water, read weight, their cockpit holds when full of ocean. In the Offshore Regs Book, right after the section on companionway hatches being watertight, comes the section on cockpit security, volume and drainage.
Short handed in the ocean: Safety, first!
Anyone voyaging in the ocean naturally wishes this adventure to be not THAT adventurous. In this case one of the early phases of planning, for either a passage to Bermuda, such as the Mini guys (and the rest of the Bermuda 1-2 fleet) are planning, or the O.S.T.A.R., is to contemplate the appropriate and required safety equipment one ought to have along.