Crew Blog

Let them eat cake

21 June 2008

This morning’s plan to take a nice sunrise shot for the Summer Sailstice always had a slim chance of success. After a week of fog during our crossing of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland we now have 8/8 cloud cover and drizzle. It is unlikely that any sunset shots will be possible either. But in true Durban 2010 and Beyond tradition of innovation and fortitude, we have baked a cake which we intend to decorate with a sunny scene and take a photo of that. It also has the added much welcomed benefit of being able to eat it after the photos have been taken.

We are currently well heeled over and making 8 to 9 knots of boat speed in slightly stronger than forecast winds. The latest synoptic chart and GRIB files show that the weather for this race is now going to be dominated by a single low pressure system which is currently tracking below us. It is due to intensify and move quite quickly across the Atlantic, destined to finally batter the North of Scotland with some happy summer weather.

We are going to be hard pressed to keep up with it as it moves North East, but we must try our best to stay near it and make use of its winds, because behind it there will be very little wind until the next low pressure decides to come across, and there is no sign yet of another one leaving the coast of Canada. With 1400 miles to go to the Fastnet Rock, and an ETA to Cork of 29 June, it is still looking promising that we might actually be able to finish this race.

All is good on Durban 2010 and Beyond, the cold and wet conditions are being dealt with remarkably well, and “life at an angle” is becoming the norm. The tricky bit is going to be when we tack onto a port tack later today, and find that all the things currently secured for a starboard tack fly across the boat. Today should also be the day when we sail through the 45 degrees west mark and thus complete seven eighths of our round the world race.

Ricky

Picture: James and John showing off the Summer Sailstice cake.