Newport RI
19 June 2013
Looking like he was sailing back from a weekend on Block Island, Jonathan Green, the sole US entrant in the 2013 O.S.T.A.R. finished the 3000 mile solo classic off Castle Hill this afternoon under bright summer skies at approximately 1415 local. Greeted by a couple of boat loads of friends and supporters, Green was the 6th boat to finish and is almost certain to capture first in class and is well in the hunt for a top three place in fleet. Describing the race, Green congratulated the two skippers in the two boats smaller than his Beneteau Oceanis 351: Richard Lett in a VQ 32 and Dutchman Jac Sandberg in a revamped 30 footer built over 20 years ago for shorthanded Round Britain and Ireland race.
Jonathan Green approaches Castle Hill to finish the O.S.T.A.R
After his departure from Newport on April first to get to the start Green was tormented by a fresh storm roughly every three or four days. On the 12th day out near the Azores he was capsized by huge seas generated by a depression that filled basically the entire north Atlantic basin with a central pressure of 955 Mb. Ensuing damage to the boat prompted an unscheduled stop on the Azores for repairs.
Starting from Plymouth on May 27, the fleet encountered hard weather from the jump with 25-35 knot west north westerly’s for the first 36 hours.
Green was leading his class virtually from the start and generally in company with the two smallest boats in the race. Englishman Richard Lett aboard Pathways to Children, a neat & tidy shorthanded boat drawn by Dutch solo sailor and designer Dick Koopmans set the pace. Dutchman Jac Sandberg aboard a 23 year old 30 footer designed by Brit. Jon Corby & originally built for the Round Britain and Ireland Race was going full throttle to keep pace with Lett. Green, sailing one of the more comfortable boats in the classic race, was pushing hard all the way thru several storms. An email from him on the second day reported same wind and a brutal crossed up sea state on the edge of the continental shelf.
When asked for his thoughts after coming ashore at the Newport Yacht Club, the Finishing Club and HQ for the race at this end, Green that it was the hardest thing he had ever done but was delighted and proud of the accomplishment.