Annapolis race fleet could reach finish by Friday

There could be a winner in the Annapolis to Bermuda by Friday.

The 19 boats left the Eastport Yacht Club on Saturday and headed out of Chesapeake Bay to Bermuda.

As of Tuesday morning, the fleet had gone past the halfway point of the 753-nautical-mile course.

Spokesman Andy Uroskie said the boats were all moving at five to eight knots. He said: “The boats are spread out across 100 nautical miles, reporting a clear day and an eight to 12 knot southwest wind. 

“Chaotic flux, Bad Cat and Medley are leading Division 1. Integrity, Gallant and Poco a Poco in Division 2, are still clustered within 10 nautical miles of each other.

“Sunbreak, Impromptu and RFS Patriot are leading Division 3. Chaotic Flux was the overall early leader and has since been replaced by Bad Cat.”

On the www.bermudaoceanrace.com blog, Bad Cat reported: “Despite what we learned by watching Ghostbusters, today we crossed the stream, (Gulf Stream). Waiting for us on the other side of the stream, we found not Gozier, the Kraken, or even Kthulu, but enough pressure, forcing us to reef the main. 

“We enjoyed a spirited sail through the Sargasso Sea, where we encountered more dolphins, both mammal and the delicious kind, flying fish a plenty, and a man-o-war.”

Bad Cat also reported they had only two sail changes for the early part of Tuesday — one for each watch. Both were executed in an orderly fashion”.