Navigator’s Log #4
June 18, 2026
The Team Comes Together
There is always a moment before a major offshore race when the focus begins to change.
For weeks, the conversation has centered on preparation—maintenance lists, equipment checks, weather models, provisioning, sail inventories, logistics, travel plans, and a hundred other details that must be completed before a boat can point her bow toward Bermuda.
Today feels different.
Crew members continue to arrive in Newport from all corners of the country. Some have spent the day in airports, others have logged long hours on the road, and a few have been bouncing between flights trying to make connections. You can usually tell who has been traveling the longest. Before they even ask what needs doing, they're looking for a place to plug in a phone or borrow a charger.
As each crew member arrives, the boat becomes a little more alive.
Under the direction of Captain James, jobs are being assigned and department lists are steadily shrinking. Engineers are deep into final systems checks. The bow and trimming crew are inspecting gear, organizing equipment, and confirming everything is exactly where it needs to be. Safety equipment is being reviewed just one more time. Spares are being inventoried and the crew is finding places to store them. Every department has its own list, and one by one those boxes are getting checked off.
One of today's recurring conversations has been sail storage and organization. Offshore racing is often won and lost on efficiency, and how quickly a crew can locate, move, and change sails can make a significant difference during a race. Discussions about sail order, stacking plans, and access have become increasingly detailed as everyone works toward the same goal—making Running Tide as efficient as possible once the race begins.
The atmosphere aboard is gradually shifting from preparation mode to race mode.
On the navigation side of things, I suspect I am not alone in spending a considerable amount of time studying the weather. A stronger area of weather, including gale-force conditions, appeared in last night's forecasts and has certainly captured the attention of navigators throughout the fleet. Every new weather run brings fresh questions. Does it move? Does it weaken? Does it strengthen? Does it force routing changes? The answers are still evolving, but you can be certain that navigation stations across Newport are glowing late into the night as routing software and weather models are scrutinized.
Meanwhile, one of my favorite parts of race week is unfolding around the docks.
Family members, friends, former crew, supporters, and members of the sailing community have begun stopping by to say hello, share a story, lend a hand, and wish Running Tide good luck. These visits serve as a reminder that while only a handful of sailors will be aboard for the crossing, an entire community stands behind every boat that heads offshore.
The final preparations are still underway, but the feeling is changing.
There is another team behind every offshore race that rarely appears in the finish photos but is absolutely essential to getting a boat to the starting line.
For every sailor aboard Running Tide, there are countless people ashore making this campaign possible. Beau's coworkers and fellow team members are helping shoulder responsibilities while key members of the crew are away. Business partners and colleagues are covering meetings, answering phones, and keeping operations moving so racers can focus on the challenge ahead. Divers have spent time beneath the waterline, inspecting the hull and ensuring Running Tide is as clean and efficient as possible before heading offshore. Family members are running errands, helping with logistics, delivering forgotten gear, and providing the support that allows us to devote our attention to the race.
Perhaps the greatest contribution comes from the families who remain at home. While we are focused on weather models, sail changes, and navigation decisions, they will be following our progress from afar, watching the tracker at all hours of the day and night, celebrating our successes and sharing in the challenges that every offshore race inevitably brings. They may not stand on the podium or appear in the race reports, but they are every bit as much a part of this effort as the crew aboard Running Tide.
As we prepare to leave Newport, we do so knowing that an entire network of supporters is helping carry us to the starting line, and for that we are truly grateful.
The boat is almost nearly ready.
The crew is coming together.
The weather is keeping navigators busy.
And for the first time, it feels like everyone's attention is beginning to shift from getting ready for the race to actually starting it.
Fair winds,
Mike "Jonesy" Jones
Navigator, Running Tide
2026 Newport to Bermuda Race