Sunday, December 4, 2016

Wirth Munroe Miami to Palm Beach Race Preview

J/160 Pipe Dream sailing Wirth Munroe race(Palm Beach, FL)- Storm Trysail Club and The Sailfish Club of Florida in Palm Beach are hosting their annual Wirth Munroe Invitational Race.  It is a quick offshore sprint of 70nm north, up the Gulf Stream from Miami to Palm Beach.

The weather looks promising for the fleet, with breezes on Friday starting in the northeast quadrant at 10-15 kts and increasing to 15-20 kts ENE later in the day.  With the Gulf Stream flowing “hot” offshore in a northerly direction around 5.5 kts, that means it could be a beat or close-fetch up the shoreline on starboard tack for most of the race, a great scenario for J/teams participating in the race.

J/88 sailing Wirth Munroe raceIn the seventeen-boat fleet is a trio of J/sailors in the PHRF classes.  In PHRF A division we find Bernie Blum’s J/88 ONEUP from Buffalo YC (New York) taking on Scott Piper’s world-traveling J/160 PIPE DREAM IX from Biscayne Bay YC for class honors.  Then, in PHRF B division, the local hotshots from the Palm Beach Sailing Club are all sailing aboard Don Lasky’s famous J/30 PAPARAZZI- a beautifully restored boat with an amazing record in offshore PHRF events!  For more Wirth Munroe Invitational Race sailing information