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Posted by RainbowChaser  |
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Post annotated by
Incognito
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This thread was moved from the category General Discussion. I grew up by the sea in England and remember vividly the time, when swimming in the bay as a youngster, that I encountered a wild porpoise. Some years later I vacationed a few times in Israel and often swam with the dolphins in Elat. The sense of a dolphin's immense strength and power when swimming alongside it is very humbling - we humans are such fragile creatures by comparison!
Later still I vacationed in San Diego and on a whale-watching day trip I spotted my first "live" gray whale (as opposed to those on natural history TV shows/documentaries). I cannot describe the awe I felt when I first saw a mom and baby gray whale near the boat - the mother stuck her head up to "eye" the boat, kept herself between her baby and us, but stayed with us for about 10 mintues before heading away. While we won't actually see whales in our SOL race, perhaps some of you will make the time to check out the information readily available on the internet about these remarkable creatures. Gray whales make a 10,000-12,000 miles round trip every year between their winter calving lagoons off Mexico and their summer feeding grounds in the cold Arctic seas. This is one of nature's most extraordinary journeys and the longest known migration of any mammal. Our SOL start point is at Isla Magdalena, the southernmost nursery of the grey whale and consequently the fewest number of births occur here (at its peak only an estimated 250-500 gray whales are here). I hope you enjoy the race and I will add in occasional snippets of information as the SOL fleet reaches the various way points!! Thank you SOL Race Committee for helping my basic race design become a SOL reality!! _____________ --- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2013-10-26 10:09:55 --- |
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Posted by SlashV  |
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Thank you RC! I share your appreciation of sea mammals
 and your initiative really makes the race become more alive in my imagination! |
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Posted by TheHorn  |
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Thank´s RG, amazing stuff.
All we have seen in our east Swedish archipelago is seals swimming along side our boat. But that´s fantastic to see too. Best chance to see seals here is to turn around and look backwards, then you can see them pop up to see what just passed them on the surface. |
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Posted by NOR_Jawik  |
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Posted by RainbowChaser |
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If you want to whale-watch up close and personal, it would seem from the articles linked here that Baja California Sur is the place to go.
One World Travel contains such phrases as "Just like college students on spring break they come here for food, fun and games. Others loll about in the warm, protected lagoons of Guerrero Negro, Scammon and San Ignacio. In the spring, the whales trek back north." and "Waterspouts erupt all around us. Whales are everywhere, circling other boats, vying for attention" while Netconnection includes "The best place on earth to get close enough to touch these friendly, curious animals in their own environment" Please take time to read some of these articles, why not share them with your kids! --- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2010-03-13 18:17:35 --- |
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Posted by TheHorn |
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"why not share them with your kids! "
He, he, my kids are 22 and 28... --- Last Edited by PerErik Horn at 2010-03-13 22:04:25 --- |
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Posted by RainbowChaser |
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Right now the SOL fleet is averaging maybe 12kts or so... for those who are wishing we were sailing downwind, spare a thought for the momma whales and their babies who are at best swimming at 5kts. The momma whales are constantly swimming as their babies have yet to acquire enough blubber to float by themselves - to cope with this, scientists now believe that whales switch off half of their brain for sleep, while the other half maintains the body swimming etc.
The SOL fleet is already passing Mendocino point and indicative of the fabulous sight offered by as many as 28,000 gray whales that are due to pass this area a few days behind us, the Redwood Coast of Mendocino County will be holding a jazz festival between 1-18 April. Throughout the County wineries will set up tasting stations along the highways, lodging places offer special whale-watching deals, and the entire area benefits from the immense interest generated by tourists wanting to whale-watch. Cape Mendocino itself has had a working lighthouse on it since 1868 and it is considered to be the westernmost point of California while at Point Arena there is a totally refurbished lighthouse where for a small fee, tourists can get a panoramic overview of the Pacific and the migrating whales - definitely one of the best places to whale-watch on-shore. --- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2010-03-18 19:42:59 --- |
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Posted by Baudolino  |
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Hello Sailors,
You could see whales in Souther Tenerife, The Canary Islands. "Tenerife is the second whale-watching destination in the entire world when it comes to the number of whale-watching hopefuls that descend upon the island each year. Focused in the waters between Tenerife and its neighboring island La Gomera, there are 25 species of the world's 78 sea mammals living and playing in the Atlantic surf." VIDEO Pilot Whale ____________ --- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2013-10-26 10:07:07 --- |
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Posted by RainbowChaser |
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Nearly all of the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale population pass by here on their journey north. Many grays remain around until the time comes to migrate south again. The first returning adult males can arrive in mid to late March. Mother-calf pairs normally return in mid-May and keep coming into July.
Most northbound whales (except for the early ones) migrate through narrow Unimak Pass in June. This narrow sea passage is in the NE Aleutian Islands. From here they are just a few weeks away from their arctic feeding grounds! |
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Posted by Schakel |
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Alas, global warming also has its effect on the gray whales' migrational habits. Studies indicate they may well be looking for other feeding grounds.
Bering Climate The importance of the Bering Strait on global weather is described in a paper published at UCAR: Bering Strait Enjoy the read. Philip _______________ --- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2013-10-26 10:08:11 --- |
Races
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Current Races:
Garagiste's Test Lab
Race #1939
INFOby brainaid.de
RC 44 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
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TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
23 August at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Aug 10th 12:00 Registration will open soon
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Patricks Test
Race #1932
INFO by brainaid.de
Young 88 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
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Race starts: Aug 03rd 08:00 Registration Open!
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Joanne's Test Race Zone
Race #1847
INFOby brainaid.de
Fareast 31R PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking: SYC - RED
Race starts: Jul 25th 12:00 Registration Closed
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Marstrand to Cowes 2025
We invite you to another race, which will kick off the third quarter of our ARCH series. We'll set off from Marstrand, Sweden, which, along with Skagen, Denmark, marks the line commonly recognised as the border separating the Baltic Sea from the North Sea. The 650nm route will take our Ripitide 50 across the North Sea and the English Channel to Cowes, England. Watch out for the fast ferries crossing the Channel from Calais to Dover 😊.
Race #1935
INFO from brainaid.de
Riptide 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ3 - ARCH - SUPSOL – SYC
Race starts: Jul 21st 17:00 Registration Open!
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Nantucket Sprint 2025
Welcome to Nantucket, from whence Herman Melville’s Cap’n Ahab sailed round The Horn into the northern Pacific Ocean to hunt the gray whale - whose migrations are celebrated elsewhere in SOL’s Q4 schedule - he never to return. And whaling too, as the 19th C progressed, like Ahab disappeared from Nantucket as the harbour silted up and mainland Massachusetts whaling stations benefited from rail connections. But beach life, yachting and nostalgia has rescued the island from oblivion, so to celebrate leisure, SOL gives you the Nantucket Sprint - 25nm in 29er_XX’s from east of Tuckernuck Island across the sound to a finish just inside the mouth of the harbour. Enjoy!
Race 1936
INFO by brainaid.de
29er_XX PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking:
SPRQ3 - SPRCH - SUPSOL – SYC
Race starts: Jul 19th 15:00 Registration Closed
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Puil's Practice Palaver
Nearly there; only 2500nm to go, round the Horn and up the Red Sea to Suez into what will more than likely be more headwinds for this sixth leg of our African circumnavigation, to be followed in September by a final sneaky dash up the canal back to where we started all those months ago. We’ll be sailing a not entirely appropriate-for-upwind-work 60ft Trimaran!
Race #1859
INFOby brainaid.de
60ft Trimaran PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking: SYC - ABS
Race starts: Jun 03rd 11:30 Registration Open!
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Gulf of St Lawrence - test - Mirek
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Race starts: Apr 21st 17:00
Registration Open!
Stefan's Duck Pond
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1900
INFO by brainaid.de
Orange 125 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking: OCQ3 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Feb 06th 00:00 Registration Closed
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Trapped Camel
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Race starts: Aug 21st 15:03
Registration Open!
Caravanserai
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Race starts: Aug 08th 17:00
Registration Open!
Patrick's Playpen
Welcome to the legendary "Westcoaster," a race that has tested sailors for over 50 years. Spanning 435 nautical miles, this iconic journey takes racers from Melbourne, across the formidable Bass Strait, and around Tasmania's rugged west coast to the finish line in Hobart. Organized by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, the Westcoaster is renowned for its challenging conditions and adventurous spirit. This year, our SOLers will tackle the course in the swift and capable First 47.7, a yacht launched by Beneteau in 2000, built for speed and endurance in long ocean races. Get ready for an exhilarating ride in one of Australia’s most celebrated yacht races!
Race #1841
INFO by brainaid.de
First 47.7 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Aug 03rd 08:00 Registration Open!
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Mirek's Mess & Canteen
music deleted
Race starts: Apr 26th 18:00
Registration Closed
Antarctica 1 of 3
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Race starts: Jan 27th 21:57
Registration Open!
Flinders Island TIMED Race 2024
Race #1776
INFO by brainaid.de
Ocean 50 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
27 January at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Jan 14th 12:00 Registration Open!
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Tasman Double 2023 - Hobart to Sydney
music deleted
Race starts: Jan 02nd 02:00
Registration Open!
John's Test Zone
It's time to test your ocean racing skills in a variety of weathers as we head the 6400 NM between Hong Kong and Auckland in a fast Super Maxi 100. We'll be heading from a northern summer to a southern winter so keep plenty of cold weather gear and warm rum on board!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1597
INFOby brainaid.de
Super Maxi 100 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
OCQ3-OCCH-SUPSOL-SYC
Race starts: Sep 01st 04:00
Registration Closed
calm's Practice Race
Last raced in 2021, we return to Boston for another race to Newport. And just like in 2021, the chosen boat is once again the speedy R/P 66. This is a TIMED race so pick your winds wisely and see how quickly you can complete this 132nm run! For reference, the winning time in 2021 was 6:12:28.
RE-REGISTER HERE to race again after finishing a run
Race #1700
INFO by brainaid.de
R/P 66 PARTICULARS
NAM_AWIP WX Updates:
0245 / 0845 / 1445 / 2045
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday, 18 August at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Aug 05th 12:00
Registration Closed
ZONA DE PRUEBA DE MANUEL
Please note the displayed course is provisional; the actual course will be set after the IRL course is announced at the skipper's briefing 48 hours before the start, and no later than 24 hours before the start.
Race #1561
INFOby brainaid.de
Young 88 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking: SYC - NTR
Race starts: Jan 10th 14:00 Registration Closed
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San Sebastian to La Rochelle 2021
Once again, our SOL race will be shared with a group of Polish sailors, representing one of the stages of their Virtual Training Cruise around Europe. 171 nm in Delphia 47s across the not always calm Bay of Biscay from San Sebastian to La Rochelle will undoubtedly be one to test their skills. Welcome/Witajcie and we wish you all fair winds.
Race #1441
INFOby brainaid.de
Delphia 47 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Mar 05th 17:00
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Aland Sea TIMED Race
Norrtalje Segelsallskap, 70km NE of Stockholm was founded in 1920, and time was when the society’s season opened with a challenging offshore race from the club line off Flaten island at the mouth of the long and narrow Norrtaljeviken, out onto a triangular course around the Aland Sea, to finish at Simpnas slightly to the north on Bjorko island - some 78nm in total. A fine race that SOL, being from these parts, ran annually up until 2013. Last run in autumn 2018, we return here to race the course again in the form a TIMED RUN in spanking new Club Swan 50s.
RE-REGISTER HERE to race again after finishing a run.
Race #1444
INFO by brainaid.de
Club Swan 50 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
RANKING:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Sunday, 28 February at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Feb 15th 12:00
Registration Closed
Bimmer's Test Zone
What about a speedy X-362 380nm race in the waters off S America, just to blow cobwebs away!!
Race #1415
INFOby brainaid.de
X-362 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
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Ranking:
SYC
ALT. CLIENT:Classic
Race starts: Dec 21st 16:00
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Antarctica 3 of 3
-
Race starts: Sep 16th 11:13
Registration Closed
BLANK POLAR
Race starts: Feb 16th 00:00
Registration Open!
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