Navigator’s Log #5
June 18, 2026
Today feels like one of those days when the race becomes very real.
It is skipper’s meeting day, weather brief day, and final check day. Around the boat, the lists are almost complete, with that being the case activity is dropping off. We are taking on final water, fuel, and provisions — lots of provisions. Every department has its own last-minute details to handle, but the start line is calling. The dock has that unmistakable feeling that comes just before a major offshore race: gear moving, crew checking systems, bags being stowed, and everyone trying to make sure the one thing they forgot is not something important. We are now down to the time where the "extra" gear is being moved off the boat.
Last night we had the crew dinner, which is one of the great traditions in offshore racing. Long before the start gun, before the watches are set and the sails are stacked, the crew sits down together. These dinners are about more than food. They are a chance to slow the pace for a moment, share a few stories, laugh a little, and recognize that the group around the table is about to depend on each other for the next several days. Offshore racing has always been built around teamwork, trust, and shared responsibility, and the crew dinner is where that really starts to settle in. So once again, Thanks Beau!
On the navigation front, as many of you may have caught on, the Atlantic forecasts are a bit unsettled. We are working through the latest weather information, Gulf Stream data, and routing options as we finalize our plan. Right now, the goal is to sail the boat cleanly and efficiently, make smart decisions early, and hopefully get as close to Bermuda as we can before the weather transitions to lighter air.
The preparation is almost behind us. The start is almost here. Soon, Running Tide will leave Newport and point toward Bermuda once again.
We are in the Finisterre Division, In group 3 - Start Time is 1350hrs EDST
To follow along you can track us at - YB Tracking Viewer - Newport Bermuda 2026
More to come from the nav station.
— Jonesy
Navigator, Running Tide