Crew Blog

Great end to a grey race

07 June 2008

It has been an interesting few days.  Nearly blinked and missed New York (actually great, though a little short, stopover).  Then the fog came down and we sailed out of the Marina and saw very little else at all for several days.  Light weather, frustrating winds, poor visibility and close quarters encounters with Clipper yachts appearing out of the gloom made it quite a lively and exciting time however.  Multiple sail changes, moving sails for optimal weight distribution and hot bunking led one colleague to comment on his single 72 hour watch, but we did manage some R&R and kept cheerful.  When we heard the race was to be shortened it did serve to focus the collective mind somewhat – not that many points left to win, and a bad result knocking us back from Jamaican highs!  Visibility suddenly improved and there were Clipper yachts all around, spread over a large area with different tactical aims, but all striving to close the distance to the gate before the deadline of 0800 local time.  The wind changed at midnight and a near beat became a downwind boat speed battle in a dying breeze… and we lost a place at the last minute by a few metres – such is life, the opposition is trying too!  However, on the bright side, we live to fight another day and the battle will not be over until Liverpool.  Watch this space for the next exciting episode from the Big Orange Boat.

Ewan