By John Rousmaniere
With a record 26 boats in the
Double-Handed Division, Richard du Moulin, Christopher Reyling, and
Lora Ann are going after their fifth straight victory. The most
demanding part is the Gulf Stream. “That’s when we need two pair
of eyes,” said du Moulin.
Lora Ann at the start of the 2008 Newport Bermuda Race. (Photo by Dan Forster)
With a record 26 boats in the
Newport Bermuda Race Double-Handed Division, Richard du Moulin and his
37-foot Lora Ann are going after their fifth straight victory.
The division has attracted a varied fleet divided into two classes
competing
for the Phillip S. Weld and Moxie Prizes. Du Moulin and his crew
Christopher
Reyling have won the division four times but are now coming up against
some specialized Class 40 boats, not to mention a new challenge by
California
sailor Darren Garnier, in the J-35 Great Scot.
Asked
to explain their success, du Moulin credited preparation. “We work
on the boat over the winter, do our first race, the Edlu, in early May
and then do the Block Island Race over Memorial Day. And we also have
a lot of experience. Chris and I have been sailing together for years.”
Du Moulin sailed 16 Bermuda Races in boats with full crews, often in
his father Ed du Moulin’s Blaze, before trying out shorthanded
racing. That was five Bermuda Races ago and he’s still at it in
Lora Ann, an Express 37. Du Moulin and Reyling say a two-person
boat isn’t as demanding as it may seem, what with the auto pilots
relieving the sailors of having to steer. Some double-handers (but not
Lora Ann) carry water ballast, which means they reef less often.
Only
one sailor has to be awake except when the boat is near other vessels
or when approaching Bermuda. The most demanding part is the Gulf
Stream.
“That’s when we need two pair of eyes,” said du Moulin, “one
pair on deck and the other in the nav station tracking the progress
of our boat and our competitors, who we follow on the iBoat tracker.”
Added
Reyling, “I actually get more sleep in a double-handed race than I
get when the boat’s fully crewed. We try not to wear ourselves out.
We rest when we can and we make especially sure we get enough to eat
and drink. There has to be enough fuel in the tank.” When the auto
pilot broke down in the 2008 race, the two sailors were exhausted
because
someone always had to be at the helm to the finish (they still won their
division).
The
most challenging part, they said, is staying on top of the navigation,
tactical, and weather data that pile up in a modern navigation station.
“It’s just harder and harder to keep up with all the information
that’s available,” said du Moulin. (PHOTO: Chris Reyling and Rich du Moulin)
Du
Moulin (who is 63) and Reyling (60) don’t deny that it can be hard
and they keep themselves in good shape. Said du Moulin, “My
example was set by Jim Mertz, who holds the Bermuda Race record of 30
races. I aim to go that far, and then quit.” After the 2010
race, he’ll have eight to go.