dos navegantes suecos acaban de cruzar el atlántico en un J80

[maka]

dos navegantes suecos acaban de cruzar el atlántico en un J80 y han ido documentando su aventura en un blog.
(more…)

la velocidad máxima a que llegaron (19,8 nudos)

http://www.ubica-id.com/nauticblog/?cat=15

A J80 crosses the Atlantic
A Swedish J80 has just crossed the Atlantic.We all knew the J80 was fast and strong. Need to be convinced?
Here is a piece of their blog:
"My friend Kim wondered what it was like sailing a J80 in the middle of the Atlantic. There are not many similarities with racing around the buoys in Baggensfjrden (the place for J80-racing in Stockholm), not even with the off shore race Around Gotland.
Were we are now there is always lots of wind. Seldom below 20 knots and, at least during our crossing, often close to 40 knots. The wind is easterly so at least it's blowing from the right direction. The waves are also a lot bigger than at home. Lots of nice long surfs. The drawback is that it tends to be a bit messy when they break over the boat.
Another difference is that we rarely steer the boat by hand. Instead there's a rubber band and a rope that through two pulleys are connected to the jib sheet that steers the boat. It works fine for most of the time and it's actually the rubber band that holds the current top speed record of 19.8 knots.
We are often forced to sit inside the cabin to get away from the constant spray from waves. In the beginning it was a very eerie feeling when the boat surfed down a wave in 12-13 knots without anyone steering. In rough weather this happens once every minute or so so after a while you hardly think about it. The boat is unbelievably stable especially at high speed with the rubber-band steering system and it has never broached nor jibed at speeds over 10 knots.
The few times we are forced to steer the boat by hand is during extreme conditions. At that time all three reefs in the main has been used and the jib is replaced by the storm jib. Despite the tiny sail area the boat is heavily over powered and is constantly planing. Waves are washing down over the boat all the time and it has happened more than once that I've wished that I had brought my ski goggles for protection against the spraying water.
The last two days the weather has been a lot nicer though. Around 12 knot winds and the deck of the boat is actually dry for the first time in many many days. It's great to sit in the sun for once. :-)
Only 599 nm to go"
| 29 January 2008 | more on the following link |