Contessa 32 in the AZAB (Azores and Back) Race 2023
December 1, 2023 · 19 min · 24K views · Cornwall
What this video covers
A Contessa 32 named Confusion competes in the 2023 AZAB (Azores and Back) race, a 1,220-mile passage from Falmouth, United Kingdom, to the Azores.0:14 The two-person crew utilizes a wind vane steering system for the majority of the downwind transit, maintaining a three-hour watch rotation.5:52 During the passage, the vessel encounters a low-pressure system that produces sustained winds of 35 to 45 knots, forcing the crew to hand-steer for extended periods when the wind vane fails to manage the heavy following seas.13:46 A spare rod for the wind vane, provided by a contact in Falmouth, allows for a mid-ocean repair.15:38 After enduring multiple periods of Force 7 to 8 winds and significant water ingress, the crew retires from the race 172 miles from the finish line due to a forecast of prolonged light airs that would have delayed their arrival by three days.17:21 The crew motors the final distance to Ponta Delgada, ultimately covering 1,500 miles.18:55
Boats in this video
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