Navigator’s Log #13

June 22, 2026

Well, we are finally out of the light, mixing air and back to normal sailing.

At about 1000, Running Tide broke free of the soft stuff and settled back into a proper sailing rhythm. We are moving along nicely on the wind at around 6.5 knots, with the breeze holding at 7–8 knots from a 30-minute average direction of 150 degrees. After the last stretch of drifting, searching, and coaxing the boat through the hole, it feels good to have the boat back underneath us again.

The water temperature is sitting at 76 degrees, and while the outside air is in the high 70s, the inside of the boat is closer to 100. Life below feels a little less like offshore racing and a little more like sitting inside a warm engine room with a chart table. Still, the sea state is calm, the boat is moving, and spirits are good.

We are currently working our way to the southwest of the rhumb line. For those following along at home, the rhumb line is the direct compass-line course from Newport to Bermuda — the simple “straight line” reference between the start and finish. Offshore racing is rarely as simple as sailing straight down that line. Wind, current, sea state, and tactical positioning often make it faster to sail above or below it, and right now our best move is to work our way SW of that reference line as we set up for the next phase of the race.

Just after sunup, we added another sighting to our marine mammals list. We saw a whale breach in the distance — always an incredible thing to see offshore — but it was too far away for us to make a positive identification, and we did not get a second look. Because of that, and with no other boats nearby to help confirm the sighting, we were not able to make a useful MMAG / Whale Alert report.

MMAG, the Marine Mammals Advisory Group, and the Whale Alert reporting system are important tools for sailors and race boats. Accurate reports help other vessels know where whales or other marine mammals have been seen, reduce the risk of vessel strikes, and add to the broader understanding of marine mammal movement offshore. The key word is accurate. If we can identify the animal, position, direction of travel, and number of animals, we report it. If we cannot, we log the moment aboard and keep watching.

For now, Running Tide is sailing again, the horizon looks better than it did a few hours ago, and the race is back on.

— Jonesy
Navigator, Running Tide