The Brunel Crew getting ready for NY
This past weekend we went to the Baltimore Inner Harbor to see the Volvo Ocean Race Open 70s and Extreme 40s while there in port. They've just completed the fifth leg of the race and will leave this Sunday for NY. It gives me chills to see the seven boats remaining in the race all lined up at the dock. Each of them bares the names of the sponsors and carries with it the hopes and dreams of so many different people. The boats are undergoing as much maintenance as they can handle while they're in port. The crews are enjoying some much needed food and rest. And race fans from all over the country have flocked to the Harbor to see the boats and experience the race.
Movistar came away with the In port Race title.
Saturday we got to the Harbor while the 70s were out competing in the In-Port race. Nothing to see, the boats were out in the Chesapeake. But the Extreme 40s were playing around in the harbor. It's thrilling to see forty foot catamarans flying a hull in the tiny little Inner Harbor. There couldn't have been more than 10 knots of wind, but no trouble for the sleak cats. They popped their hulls out of the water with ease. Sunday we returned just in time to watch the last tour of the 70s leave without us. Bad timing. We stood on the dock watching the tour guide walk the last group past the boats. I just knew he was telling them something intensely fascinating. I wanted so much to be on that dock inspecting every piece of hardware, every line, every inch of those boats. Not that they would let us on board, but it would have been awesome just to get close.
Finally last night we took one last trip to Baltimore and barely made the last tour. PHEW! Sooo worth the wait. We had a fantastic tour guide. She was an adorable librarian, clearly a sailing enthusiast, and very knowledgable about the race, the boats, and the crews. And Oh My God are those boats amazing.
Movistar - still going strong
There are lots of different sailboat races. The Volvo takes place every four years and is one of the more publicized races. Crews of ten (down from twelve four years ago) race around the world stopping along the way to compete in In-Port races, make repairs on their boats, do some PR and rest. There are more extreme races like Around Alone, now called 5-Oceans, where a single sailor races around the world stopping at various ports. And crazier yet, the Vendee Globe solo non-stop no assistance circumnavigation, the Everest of Sailing Races. The World Sailing Games are starting in 9 days and the Fleet and Match races of the America's Cup Season has been ongoing since 2004. They will end with the climactic Louis Vuitton and America's Cup Matches in 2007. It's a huge World of excitement, but sadly not that well known in the US.
A member of team Erricson
Weekends like this one make my dreams of adventures burn strong and inspire me to work toward a life on the water. I feverishly search for ways to spend more time on a boat. Could I quit my job? What if I moved to Annapolis? Would I be able to crew on someone's boat for the weekly races? What if I take lessons? Could I buy a boat? It's contagious too. Even Steph, who hasn't ever sailed, caught the bug. She was swept up in our excitement and now is eager to try sailing too.
Good weekend.
