Navigator’s Log #9

June 21, 2026

Finally in the Gulf Stream and getting the push we have been working toward since leaving Newport. The sea temperature has climbed rapidly and is now sitting at 82°F, while temperatures aboard Running Tide are pushing into the low 90s. It is a sure sign that we have left the cooler waters of the continental shelf behind and entered one of the most influential features in offshore racing.

The Stream is currently delivering exactly what every navigator hopes for — a favorable ride down the rhumb line with a boost of roughly 4 to 5 knots. Few things are more satisfying than watching the boat speed and GPS speed disagree in your favor. If all goes according to plan, we should reach the far wall of the Gulf Stream in about three hours, where the next phase of the race strategy begins. As always, the challenge will be balancing the current, the forecast wind shifts, and positioning against the rest of the fleet.

The competition in Finisterre Class 3 remains incredibly tight. Every tracker update seems to show the fleet compressed together, with boats trading places as they work different lanes and routing choices. At the moment, the gap from first through third is less than an hour on corrected time — effectively neck-and-neck in an offshore race that still has plenty of miles remaining. Every sail change, every watch handoff, and every routing decision matters when the margins are this small.

For now, Running Tide is making the most of the Gulf Stream's conveyor belt toward Bermuda. The crew is settled into the rhythm of the race, the boat is moving well, and all eyes are on the far wall and the weather beyond it.

Mike "Jonesy" Jones
Navigator, Running Tide
2026 Newport–Bermuda