From The Deck of Prospector

Our start went off smoothly at 2:14pm.  We got the start we wanted at the starboard buoy, to give us a better sailing angle to Brenton Reef and to allow for the flood tide.  We headed up hard at the starboard buoy to get to windward of the rest of the fleet and were off.  We have amazing sailing conditions, 22-25 knots of wind at 230-240 degrees true.

We set our FR0 (Jib Top) just past Brenton Reef and our Genoa Staysail shortly after that.  Prospector likes this double headed set up and we should be in this for the next 9 hours or so.  We are hauling the mail averaging 11.5-12 knots at a course of 130, just east of Martha's Vineyard.  All aboard are happy and enjoying the ride. We have set the boat to Greenwich Mean Time and our settling in to our watch system.

Thanks to Commodore (and SITP Partner) Jeff Pribor for the rousing email to the SIYC membership.  We miss you Jeffie, even though you are with us in spirit, and will do our best to make you proud.

Thanks too to Gretchen McMahon for photographing our departure.  We can't wait to see her amazing shots!

Finally, thanks to all of our families.  You gave us an amazingly festive send off from Newport Shipyard and we got a big jolt of energy from your cheers from the deck of Great Scott, our spectator boat.

After I year of prep Race Day is here.

Weather this morning in Newport is unsettled.  A warm front is pushing through.  A big thunderstorm came through early this am and another is forecast just before the start.  We will likely be in full foul weather gear and quite wet as we head out.

The second storm will cause unsettled wind conditions as it passes.  After it is through we should get a southerly wind that will build and veer to the southwest.  The further south we go the stronger and more veered the wind will get.

We are heading south.  How far south is the big question we will wrestle with for the next 36 hours.  The lead yachts in the class that started Sunday are in the core of the Gulf Stream.  We may be headed that way too.

Napoleon used to say that "an army travels on its stomach".  The Prospector partners believe this too.

Check out our pre-race menu, all prepared at the team house by our amazing team chef, Matt Baldwin.

6/28 - 7/2 PROPOSED REGATTA MENU

MONDAY 6/29

         COCKTAIL APPS

                  -Pan steamed fresh middle neck clams w/ white wine, garlic

                  and tasso ham finished with herbed compound butter

                  -Lobster stuffed mushrooms w/ lemon garlic butter

         DINNER

                  -Pan seared chicken breast stuffed w/ fresh mozzarella and                basil and braised chicken thighs w/ tangy vera cruz sauce,       

                  herb roasted fingerling potatoes with fresh shaved                                parmesan, steamed asparagus and roasted rainbow                                   carrots, fresh garden salad, baked cinnamon apple pie

TUESDAY 6/30

         BREAKFAST

                  -Butter poached local shrimp and stone ground Savannah                            grits w/ andouille sausage gravy, fresh cut fruit, assorted                       granola and greek yogurt, eggs to order

         LUNCH

                  -(If we eat at the house) - Garden fresh salad w/                                             cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, kalamata olives and                                     herb vinaigrette, garlic and herb roasted pork tenderloin                            gyro, assorted cookies

                  -(if on the boat) - Cashew and red grape chicken salad,                       white cheddar on pita or ham and salami italian style                                 sandwich on white sub roll w/ lettuce, tomato and                                  provolone cheese, assorted cookies

         COCKTAIL APPS

                  -Lemon and garlic hummus w/olive and roasted red pepper                relish and toasted croustinis and assorted flatbreads

                  -Stuffed jalepeno peppers

                  -Sausage stuffed shrimp

         DINNER

                  -Oven roasted beef filet and butter poached lobster w/ demi               glace and lemon and fresh herb burre blanc, roasted corn                    pudding, israeli couscous w/ wild mushrooms, green                                     onions, tomatoes,diced peppers and toasted pine nuts,                       brussel sprouts w/ bacon and shallots, fresh garden salad,                        upside down skillet corn cake w/ caramelized pears (Sweet                and Vicious)

WEDNESDAY 7/1

         BREAKFAST

                  -Blueberry pancakes w/ real maple syrup, bacon, hash                        brown potatoes w/ peppers and onions, fresh cut fruit,                    assorted granola and yogurt, eggs to order

         LUNCH

                  -Oven roasted turkey breast w/ baby swiss cheese, bacon,                         bibb lettuce, tomato, mayo and mustard or Deli sliced ham,                         cheddar, mayo, mustard, bibb lettuce, tomato.  Assorted                            cookies

         OPENING CEREMONIES APPS

                  -Meatball sliders w/ fresh mozzarella

                  -BLT risotto cakes

                  -Pad thai chicken/shrimp lettuce wraps

                  -Ceviche poppers

                  -Lobster roll sliders

                  -Bacon wrapped scallops

                  -Low country boil bites

                  -Beef tar tare w/ garlic crostini

                  -Shrimp cocktail

                  -Prosciutto, fig and brie bruschetta

                  -Cordon bleu stuffed chicken wings

                  -Hot crab dip with toast points and flatbread

                  -Assorted tea sandwiches

                  -Tuna poke on crostini

                  -Assorted canapés

How to Follow the Competition

Race Tracking

Each yacht is equipped with a YB tracking device, which will enable anyone with a computer, tablet, or smart photo to follow, in real-­‐time, the progress of individual yachts, a single class, or the entire fleet during the Transatlantic Race 2015.

The tracker can be found here: http://yb.tl/transatlantic2015 (it will be active 24 hours before the first start, June 28 at 1400 EDT).

You can also view the tracker on a tablet or smart phone. You must first download the YB Races app, then within the app, add the TR2015 race. There is no charge to follow this race.

Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yb-­‐races/id452193682?mt=8

Google Play/Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yellowbrick.raceviewer&hl=en

Race Media

The race’s media team will be cranking out daily reports, along with photo galleries and videos from the starts and finishes, in addition to whatever images we receive from the boats during the race. You can find our media at the following locations:

Website: http://transatlanticrace.com

Boat Blogs: http://transatlanticrace.com/2015-­‐06-­‐15-­‐18-­‐55-­‐58/boat-­‐blogs

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TransatlanticRace?fref=tsTwitter Handle: @TransatlantRace Instagram: @nyyc_regattas

Hashtag: Tag Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posts with the #TR2015 and we’re more likely to see them and promote them through our social media feeds.

Click here for the TR2015 Facebook Page