more whale tales
The recent Marblehead-Halifax race was an unlucky one for two teams; the big canter Donnybrook, owned by the unlucky Jim Muldoon, ran full speed into a whale on their last night at sea. Â Given the boat’s history, the crew wisely jumped on deck and prepared the liferafts, but the boat was able to limp into Halifax and take second over the line. Â Canadian biologists are seeking info about the whale; apparently the blubber stuck to the keel wasn’t enough to identify it.
badfish stories
On the other end of the racing spectrum is the world-traveling Cookson 50 canter Privateer, who’s won just about every ocean race she’s entered at one point or another.  Those days are over thanks to a wrecked rig and a hull split open like a bratwurst on an open fire, and a fishing boat off Cape Cod was apparently the instrument of their destruction.
Details are sketchy, likely because of insurance/fault issues, but we’re extremely bummed for the all-around champ and her owner and crew.  A bit more info and photos are in the thread.
