Our very own Bruce Schwab

[Hwyl]

Let's hoist a glass or two at Thanksgiving for this American who is sailing a wooden open 60 in the Vendee Globe. He is somewhat sponsored by WB.

He's doing 10.5 kts and is 800 miles behind the leader at the latest update http://www.vendeeglobe.org/uk/classements

I bet he's feeling very alone. I hope he at least has freeze dried turkey.

[ 02-18-2005, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[Wild Wassa]

Being 800 behind means you get to sail longer than the winner does, :cool: .

What's winning in a wooden boat and why would you want to? ... mmm.

Warren.

[Hwyl]

His boat is a departure from the standard Warren. It's skinny and has an unstayed mast. It's probably capable of withstanding more bad weather. 800 miles ain't nothing when you're rolling off 400 mile days ----- mostly down in your part of the world.

[Jack Heinlen]

Godspeed.

[uncas]

Heck, I remember Intrepid during the America's Cup Trials...Knock on Wood. :D It's the thought.

[Boomkin Joe]

Best of luck!

[Hwyl]

He's still at the back (9th out of a remaining 11 boats). Conrad Humphreys, who had to stop to fix his rudder, is 25 miles from Bruce and may pass him today. They're an amazing 4000 miles behind the leader, who is about to round Cape Horn, while they are South of Kiwiland.

Good luck to all.

[ 01-02-2005, 08:08 AM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[bamamick]

Man, that is an awesome looking boat Bruce has. I Just read an interview with Bruce from Sailing Anarchy. For those of you who don't know SA, it's pretty much like the bilge here, if cursing, name calling, etc. were allowed, but most of these guys really know performance sailing. Not really my cup of tea, but some of you may like it if you've never been there.

As an example, the opening question in the interview with Bruce was 'who the hell are you and why should we care?'. lol.

Best of luck to Bruce and the rest of the fleet. May they all get home safe.

Mickey Lake

[ 01-02-2005, 09:23 AM: Message edited by: bamamick ]

[Concordia..41]

Amen.

[cs]

Another Forumite got me a copy of his "Music For Sail" and I would recomend it. All the proceeds from the sale of the CD go to support Ocean Planet and the Made In America Foundation.

http://www.bruceschwab.com/img/cdcover2.jpg

Music For Sail (http://www.bruceschwab.com/cd.cfm)

Chad

[Hwyl]

Looks nice down there.

http://www.bruceschwab.com/img/news/update_01_17_05-1.jpg

There was a piece on Maine Public radio last night but unfortunately I missed it (soccer game). It'll be on their site today

[Hwyl]

Here is another picture of Bruce rounding Cape Horn. Someone else on the forum must be excited about this. Please!

http://www.bruceschwab.com/img/news/update_01_19_05-1.jpg

[Karl A. Hilbert]

A solid performance so far. You have to love his style sailing this boat in the '96 TransPac.

Rumbleseat (http://www.wingo.com/sss/transpac96/schwab.html)

[Concordia..41]

Absolutely!
- M

[Tristan]

Reminds me of the Smeetons being rolled, pitch-poled, and finally making it. Looks beautiful, but I think I'll stick to the Florida Keys (and inshore at that). Lowell P. Thomas, not cut out for ocean Voyaging!

[Ken Hutchins]

It is a real adventure and takes a special kind of person to make it happen. We're wishing for a speedy, safe trip. ;)

[Noah]

I check in about 4 times a day to see how he's doing. At this point it looks like he will get a 9th place finish as Nick Moloney on Skandia just broke his keel off. Hopefully Conrad on Hellomoto will make it back in one piece. He busted one of the hydralic rams in his canting keel last night, but still has one left.

I would love to find out more about Rumbleseat. I know she's a Reimers designed 30 sq, and is now sailing in the carribean and named Diva. She is still winning down there...Maybe when Bruce hits dry land I'll email him.

Noah

[Hwyl]

He's keeping the same speed as the leaders, just that pesky 4000 miles difference.

Now in 9th place, there is unlikely to be any more attrition.

I hope Mike Golding wins (ETA) Feb 2nd, he's currently 3rd

[Hwyl]

He's off the Canaries, about a thousand miles to go (Saturday arrival???) Wish our boy well.

[Hwyl]

Off Gibralter now. Let's hope he gets some South Westerlies

[Garrett Lowell]

Wish I could be there with him.

[John of Phoenix]

It sounds like tough going right now. "The creaking and cracking noises coming from the keel box are gradually getting louder and louder." :eek:

Bruce longing for the end...
Friday, February 18, 2005 - 07:45 PM


Ocean Planet update

February 18, 2005

From 37 01N, 18 05W @ 1720 UT

This is horrible sailing. The wind is from the worst direction, and the pounding makes it impossible to go a decent speed. Two things that have long been my "wish list" for Ocean Planet, more lead ballast and also forward water ballast tanks, would sure come in handy now.

The creaking and cracking noises coming from the keel box are gradually getting louder and louder. I hope that I´m correct in that it is not anything critical, but it does not sound very nice. But there is no way to inspect it, and there is no way to make it stop. In these waves the boat still pounds when practically standing still, so slowing down doesn´t do much.

About an hour ago I tacked, after much consternation. It takes a long time to move all the gear to the new side so one doesn´t want to be tacking all the time when it is hard just to stand up. But our VMG was very bad and it seemed we were continually headed on starboard tack, more so than the grib files have been indicating. So I´ll try to make a little easting on port tack until the wind clocks back again, which should be eight hours or so.

I have been trying to block the noises by listening to music or watching DVD´s with headphones. It helps a lot to try to forget we are beating up the boat. But sometime we land so hard I have to hang on for fear that I´ll break away the nav station chair.

Condtions do not look promising all the way to Les Sables, so psychologically this will be the hardest 1000 miles I have ever sailed.

I´m ready to get this over with!

Banging away, in between the Azores and the coast of Portugal,

Bruce and Ocean Planet

[Mike Vogdes]

What an incredible feat to sail around the world in one of these high tech machines. And to be burdened with some sort of gear failure that you are helpless to even try and repair.

[bamamick]

Godspeed, Bruce. Hang tough, dude.

Mickey Lake

[Concordia..41]

No updates since the above post on 2/18.

[rbgarr]

He's heading north off Vigo, Spain at about nine knots with 750 miles to go. He's on starboard tack waiting for the wind to switch to NNW and then he'll tack over to port for easier going. See http://www.vendeeglobe.org/uk/classements

[Concordia..41]

Thanks! How cool would it be to watch him cross the finish line :cool:

- M

[Hwyl]

Margo, there is a cool post from Anne Liardet (I think she is in 11th place) this morning.



"I´d really keen to get home We are 1880 miles from Cape Finisterre...Bruce is going to be the next one to point towards Les Sables. He and his "Ocean Planet" have made a very fine trip (I think so) and he´s a great guy who has really been going through the mill in this Vendée because he very quickly found himself with a lack of chocolate. If you´re going to Les Sables to greet him, bring along some sort of cocoa for him, seriously! I´d really like to have done it myself but there´s a problem of timing...Have a lovely day everyone. See you soon.
Anne on Roxy et Andaska"

[ 02-22-2005, 07:57 AM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[rbgarr]

And from Bruce himself:

“Things are ok here. It’s a little rough but I’m making good progress this morning. I’m pretty close to the direct course, leaning a bit towards Cape Finisterre. I’m waiting for more weather information and then I’ll refine my trajectory a little. I saw two ships last night. When it’s rough I imagine it must be very difficult to see a little sail boat but I haven’t had any problems. I simply call them up on the VHF and have a chat. It’s always worst by Cape Finisterre – it’s like a highway there. It’s good to have a little contact but I’d really like to be closer to the finish. I hope the wind will hold as long as possible. It’s fine now but it looks like I’m going to get NE’lies in the Bay of Biscay. That’s coming right from Les Sables which means I’ll be able to smell it right from Cape Finisterre! Lately I’ve been spending my time watching DVDs and music to block out the sound of the keel. Fortunately I have enough fuel to have the radar on all the time. I’m a little tired today as I really have to keep a look out and I know that will get worse as the traffic intensifies. I’ve have to be careful to make sure I take short 20 minute naps as I know I have particular problems staying awake between 2 and 5 in the morning. It’s much colder and I’m making the most of my fuel to put the heating on. I haven’t done that since the Southern Ocean. The boat’s in pretty good shape down below. I’ve tried to have a couple of baths but it’s tricky when the boat is pounding upwind and you end up with a bucket of water on your head! If the wind holds I can give an ETA of Wednesday but I’m likely to be upwind with a much worse VMG so I think realistically it’s going to be late Thursday or Friday. I know the race is almost over but the finish feels such a long way away!”

[Hwyl]

325 miles to go as of 10:00 GMT this morning. Wind is heading on him and it's cold.

On the Sailing Anarchy site someone said that it would be a great idea for an American chocolate maker to meet him on the dock with heapings of chocolate (see my previous italic post). I agree.

I wonder if he'll be in Portland for the boat show. I'm sure he will if Phinny has anything to do with it.

[Garrett Lowell]

I'm sure a long (2 hour), hot shower is high on his list, once he gets off the boat and the world stops moving.

[Hwyl]

Update from the Vendee site (distance was 277 as of 1900 GMt so it shold be close to 225 as i type) It must be 'orrible out there.

February 22, 2005

From 43 58N, 08 09W @ 1327 GMT

“309 miles to go to be exact . We are right off the northwest tip of Spain, just past Cape Finisterre. Of course Les Sables is dead upwind so we´ll likely sail almost 500 miles to get there. It was a rollicking time last night. There was a good northerly wind and we blasted across the Cape´s shipping lanes without much fuss. Dodging the fishing boats this morning was relatively more hectic. Now we are sort of parked, flopping about with 2 reefs and the staysail, waiting for the changing wind to sort itself out. There are rain/wind squalls everywhere, making it hard to put up more sail. I just tacked away from the northern tip of the Cape, I was hoping to lay it but we were headed as we neared the land. Fantastic view of hills though, just before we tacked over. Ah, the nearest squall is hitting us now....wind! Not too much, about 18. So we are going good again, but who knows how long it will last? Whatever, no big deal. The only bad thing is that there is still a good chop and swell, so as soon as we are moving the pounding starts! A good number of Ocean Planet supporters are in Les Sables now, getting ready for our arrival and to help tidy up the boat. It´s was fun to call the team on the Iridium phone and catch them at our favourite hangout, Cafe Cuisine. Conrad from Hellomoto was there too and I was able to congratulate him on a great race! Yikes, just got in...the squall is now up to 30kts, with HAIL and I had to deal with that. Good thing I resisted putting up more sail while we were flopping!”

[ 02-25-2005, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[Hwyl]

Less than 150 miles to go possibility of snow, Nice article in Maine paper today

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/050223schwab.shtml

[John B]

http://www.bruceschwab.com/

fascinating stuff. I hadn't realised he had rumbleseat.
Noah, there was a Classic Boat article on it some years ago. In a nutshell, he cut the keel off and fitted a fin and bulb keel. He also had some innovative furling gear for the trans pac . Vertical full length battens in the headsail parallel to the luff for better shape control and maximum area.

[Noah]

The wonders of modern communication...I emailed Bruce a couple of weeks ago about his old 30 Sq, and he emailed back mid race. I have a few more details, and it appears that she is for sale. It might be a very interesting boat...If my Hinckley sells that could be the one.

Anyway, it was great to get an email from Bruce, and he is a neat guy who has done some tremendous stuff. My hat is off to him.

Noah

[Hwyl]

For those not watching Bruce's excruciatingly slow finish. He's doing about 3 knots. I'd extrapolate to about 25 miles to go now.

He's threatening to paddle with his guitar.

Arriving at Dawn is always a good end to a passage though. He's assured of his position.

[Concordia..41]

Ta da! (I think that's French for He Made It!)

Friday, February 25, 2005 - 09:02 AM



It was at 08 hours 00 minutes and 57 seconds GMT this Friday 25th February 2005 that the 60 foot monohull Ocean Planet skippered by American Bruce Schwab crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe 2004, a single-handed race, without stopovers and without assistance departing and finishing in Les Sables d’Olonne (France). In looping this particular loop of the world, Bruce goes down in history as the first American to complete the Vendée Globe.

The race time to make the 23 680 miles is 109 days 19 hours and 58 minutes and 57 seconds at an average theoretical speed across the course of 8.98 knots.

[ 02-25-2005, 03:58 AM: Message edited by: Concordia..41 ]

[Hwyl]

http://images.vendeeglobe.org/upload/images/mini/jpg_1103038111_H230.jpg

[Doug Wood]

Congratulations to Mr. Schwab - incredible achievement!

[rbgarr]

I love the "Wilson' face painted on whatever it is over his right shoulder. 'Castaway' indeed!

[StevenBauer]

Any that can make it to Portland for the Maine Boatbuilders Show next month should have a chance to meet Bruce. See you there. Great job Bruce!

Steven

[uncas]

Can't make it to Portland...wish I could...Would like to meet Bruce...Maybe, he will be at the WBShow in August...
I see he didn't have to use his guitar to paddle into harbor... ;)

[rbgarr]

"After 109 days at sea, solo sailor Bruce Schwab crossed the finish line of the Vendee Globe early Friday on France's Atlantic coast, becoming the first American to complete the world's most grueling yacht race.

Rain squalls and winds blowing the wrong way forced a one-day delay in Schwab's arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne, where friends and well-wishers waited to greet him. But the frustration ended during a burst of golden sunlight as he skippered his 60-foot Ocean Planet to the finish.

Schwab, who set completion of the 25,000-mile course as his goal and finished ninth among a starting field of 20 boats, became only the second American to sail around the world alone without stopping.

Ocean Planet, launched in 2001 in Portland, Ore., was built specifically to compete in the Vendee Globe, with a narrow-hulled design that emphasized ease of sailing and safety over blistering performance.

The Vendee Globe was the second around-the-world solo race for Schwab, 44, a lifelong sailor from Oakland, Calif., who has spent much of his career as a rigger and in other boatyard jobs. He sailed Ocean Planet in the 2002 Around Alone, a five-leg race with stops along the route.

Schwab prepared for the race in Portland, Maine, where he divided his time between working on the wood-and-carbon fiber sloop and raising money for the race. He plans to return the boat to Portland this spring.

The refinements on the Ocean Planet were made at Maine's Portland Yacht Services, where volunteers drifted in periodically to help Schwab. The yard's owner, Phineas Sprague, was among the contingent of Schwab supporters who were at the finish to greet the skipper.

The Vendee Globe began Nov. 7, with the boats sailing south to the Cape of Good Hope before heading into the treacherous Southern Ocean. The route carried them south of Australia and to within a few hundred miles of Antarctica before it rounded Cape Horn for the final run back to France. "

Associated Press

[Hwyl]

Another C&P but he's worth it. I think the boat exemplifies many of the values we talk about on here: It's wood, it's simple (compared to it's rivals), it's safe and it's innovative. Remember it's basically a Wylie Cat

here's the C&P

Bruce´s Press Conference Extravaganza!
Friday, February 25, 2005 - 05:15 PM


“In a place where the weather is so cold...it is incredibly warm!” Bruce said of his welcome in Les Sables d’Olonne.

The Governor of the State of Maine phoned Bruce during the conference with these words: “We are very proud of you Bruce. The entire state of Maine is proud of you. As the first American to complete the Vendée Globe, you are a wonderful example and a tremendous ambassador of our State. You are cordially invited to a spaghetti dinner at Blayne Mansion, one of the oldest, most historic buildings in the state and it would be a real honour to have you there.”

“There are a number of great Americans like Brad Liew and Mike Plant and I consider myself to be very lucky to be the first American to finish the Vendée Globe, but I certainly won’t be the last. I am mixed with emotions” said Bruce. “I’m very proud. There are so many people that I am proud for that have helped me succeed in this Vendée Globe and my preparation for it. 2 students that have been a real inspiration throughout the voyage are Melissa and Alice (young French students). At times I was a little homesick but I never felt alone with all the support I had. With the irridium phone I was able to keep in contact and so perhaps my house is the main thing I missed.

The Vendée Globe is pretty much what I expected having been round the world before in the Around Alone. Ocean Planet is a great boat and though the money and support came along quite late we got there in the end. The whole thing was a little intimidating and scary but I dedicate all that I have achieved to those who have supported me. What really matters in the Vendée Globe is the effort you put into a project and what you learn. That’s all.

The pace of the race was a real surprise but like all races the level seems to go up a notch each time. 4 years ago Ocean Planet was on a par with boats like Hellomoto and Kingfisher and now 4 years on we have left speed to boats like Ecover and PRB and have taken a safe option. We did a good job but we are just 4 years too late! The battle between the top three was really the clash of the Titans and it all came down to skill of the sailors – waiting for their rivals to blink...Ocean Planet is an innovative boat and it is unique. It is a different approach to the Open 60 equation. It’s easy to sail, safe, reliable and also inexpensive.

The Deep South for me was intense. I was in a couple of pretty bad storms but I missed the worst of it because I was further North. I was lucky enough to have sun near New Zealand and was sailing in the Southern Ocean under spinnaker at that point! North of the Horn I was north of a depression and Conrad was south of it. He really suffered with that while I surfing down the coast of Chile in some fabulous, sunny, high speed sailing. You always remember the good moments and a sense of humour gets you through anything.

The Cape Horn for me was great even though I’ve seen it before during the Around Alone. I was lucky with the weather and this time I had the time to take in the whole surroundings – the snow-capped summits of Chile, the cliffs in the Bay of Beagle, the Strait of Lemaire which cleared to reveal the mountains of Tierra del Fuego and it’s rugged spectacular cliffs.

Gary Clements, the American Ambassador in France, spoke of how proud he and his fellow American citizens were of Bruce’s achievements. “Ocean Planet is 100 % made in America and along with Howard Leach we are very proud of what you have accomplished Bruce”, he said. “Your courage tenacity and talents as a navigator and your willingness to share your sailing experience are exemplary. Students in France and America have learnt so much through the scientific data you have sent out during your voyage and it serves as an inspiration to them to push themselves further in their own fields. Lance Armstrong has made the Tour de France famous in America and you have raised the awareness of the Vendée Globe there too. Thank you for building the bridges of comprehension to enable a better understanding between the Americans and the French.

[ 02-25-2005, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[Billy Bones]

Cool!

:D :D :D

[bamamick]

Hearty congratulations to Bruce on his fine accomplishment. Well done, sir. Now, get some sleep.

Mickey Lake

[grange]

Holy @#$%!!!

I can't believe I often complain about the time it takes me to commute to work, or how the wife and I don't go out to dinner because it would take too much effort to get the little one ready to go.

Man, that is one incredible race.

[Wild Wassa]

Super Skipper, congratulations. I hope you are looking forward to the next race. Knowing the course would help, how hard was it to remember? ... and as we say in Oz Sir, 'next time'.

All the best.

Warren.

ps, "I'm just going to practice on the far side of the course for a short while Dear." ... would have a certain degee of difficulty added.

[ 03-05-2005, 03:05 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]