Late this afternoon Joe Harris and his crew aboard Wells Fargo - American Pioneer slipped the lines in Boston and set sail for England and the start of The Transat. It was a cold, wet afternoon, but the mood did not match the weather and the crew were upbeat and looking forward to the 3,500 miles passage across the North Atlantic.
Joining Joe on board is the former owner Brad Van Liew and Boat Manager Brian Harris. Brad is America's foremost single-handed sailor and he will spend much of the trip training Joe and teaching him how to sail the boat. Brad had two solo circumnavigations under his belt and his experience and knowledge will be invaluable during the upcoming race. Brian is probably the best boat manager in the world and he will make sure that Wells Fargo - American Pioneer hums all the way to the UK. He will also ensure that Joe has an intimate understanding of the workings of the boat in case he needs to fix something during the race from England to Boston.
The forecast for the trip is rain for the first day or so. A cold front is due to pass overhead during the night bringing downpours and some wind, but the good news is that the forecast is for a strong south-westerly wind to fill in behind the front. If that happens it should be a fun ride. Stay tuned for updates as Joe and his crew sail across the Atlantic. Next stop Plymouth.
- Brian Hancock (great.circle@verizon.net)
