PV RACE - 2020

Credit: Joysailing.com

PV 2020

“The boat is definitely pretty quick” Zack Maxam, our boat captain said as we motored in from the first practice prior to the 2020 PV race. The rocket ship of a boat was the old Tonnere, a turbo Ker 51, a full prepreg carbon boat with a 10 foot prod. After getting the boat late last year, she went into the yard for a new paint job and some super secret modifications. 

After sorting out some prep and getting the crew up to speed the boat was ready to race. The start area was inside San Diego Bay. So we had a nice start and headed out of the bay along with the main saturday competition. Although we were starting in sub teens, we were just able to keep the boat on the step and hang in with the VOLVO 70s. In the lighter conditions we struggled a bit, but managed to put up a good fight anyway once the wind increased a touch. There was a great battle about 300 miles in with us and the VOLVO 65 (VIVA MEXICO) but we were consistently contesting with light winds and struggling to keep the boat on the step. 

Roll call on day three had us in close company with the leaders and as the day has progressed we  gained better and better pressure. Topping us out at high teens true wind speed with 22 on the speedo. Towards Isla de Cedros we took a bad gybe and found ourselves on the outside of the fleet but with better pressure ( silver linings right?).  Day four and five found us slogging slowly along trying to push through the high, but sadly to no avail. After five days, a few close calls with whales, and a lot of sail changes, we finished in 4th and 7th overall! 

Overall with PV being the first offshore race for this new program, and a light one at that, we did fairly well. Our team found that the boat really only likes to be sailed on the step and in anything less, we find her groaning. From here on out our team will be training as often as possible. I learned what I can improve upon and will be coming into this season with a new drive to get better. Fast Exit is just starting the season and ready to be a force to be reckoned with. 

Special thanks to Morgan, Pike, Zack, Tyler, Steve, Carlos, Randy, The Skiff Sailing Foundation, and of-course John Raymont.

Fast Exit

at the start