Crew Blog

What a day on Hull & Humber - 26 September 2007

26 September 2007

HH Leg1 Race2 Day4 sam and spinnaker wrap 070926

What a day it has been here on Hull & Humber!

During the night whilst making excellent speed, flying the heavy weight spinnaker, however with the wind picking up further and the sea state also. Made it harder to keep the spinnaker flying safely. After broaching, luckily enough there were crew members located on the Vang, Mainsheet and Spinnaker sheet that all acted quickly and released them to make the yacht come out of the broach. We decided to drop the spinnaker. Preparation began with the sheets and in the snake pit with the halyards, we began to drop the spinnaker until a wave knocked us slight off course and the spinnaker burst its way through the anti-wrap, allowing the spinnaker to wrap its way round both of the forestays several times. After trying to untangle the spinnaker for several hours and not succeeding, we decided to wait until daylight so we could see what we were doing. With the spinnaker wrapped round the forestay, sailing under full main and surfing down the waves we was hitting speeds of 21.4 knots and with the boat humming away as the water passed under the hull at fast speed. Eventually the sun came up and we spent several more hours fighting with the spinnaker from the deck and myself (Sam Willis) and Danny our skipper spending time up the mast with Danny spending most of his time up there upside down, thinking we may need to cut it free, we finally managed to untangle it from the forestays and drop it, luckily only causing a few punctures.

Whilst the few punctures were been patched down below as well as the several pieces of anti-wrap. We hoisted the Yankee 2 and polled it out, now with the yacht sailing again, with a good steady speed we all could relax and chill out to a certain extent but carry on pushing the yacht under racing mode and we where able to go back into the watch systems. Hopefully we haven’t dropped our 1st position.

1. per lindwall, Jakarta 27 September 2007

What a night - what a speed without headsails!!! well done, great you managed to keep the kite in one piece… have a brownie and chill out!

2. Barbara & Bob Watson, Beckenham, Kent 27 September 2007

Dear Danny, Sam & Crew

Well done to all of you, especially Sam and Danny on sorting out your spinnaker problem, and not only that you have had some excellent sailing even with a problem. Keep up the good work, keep having fun, and stay
safe. Very best wishes to you all.

Danny’s Mum & Dad (Babs & Bob)

3. Pat Morgan, Bristol 27 September 2007

After such a night..Pat yourselves on the back as you are still up front. Well done all ofyou.. we are with all the way.. xx

4. Mike & Helen Harper, Richmond, N. Yorkshire 27 September 2007

Well done getting the sail sorted out. You have done well to hold onto the lead in spite of that problem. Well done!
The whales and dolphins you saw sound like fun!
Best wishes
Mike & Helen Harper

5. jordan brown, hull 27 September 2007

glad you got the sail sorted out keep up the good sailing the wildlife sounds great

6. mark thompson, harrogate, yorkshire 27 September 2007

Keep up the good work. Went to Liverpool and saw the start. Good Luck to you all

7. Mark Pringle, St.Albans 27 September 2007

Hey guys, well done on holding on to the lead despite trying to knit the spinnaker onto the forestay! And tell Danny I’ll bring him a big bag of Skittles out to Durban for being an upside down hero! Keep BOB humming and we’ll be watching you… Mark

8. Anne streatfeild, London 27 September 2007

Hi all, I’m thrilled as all we Ull n Umber supporters are, you seem to be doing fantastically. Shame about the spinnaker but clearly you moutain goats know what you’re doing even though you’re upside down, Danny, with a great team!

I’m feeling a bit nervous about joining in the fun as you seem to have a great formula going. Anne xx

9. john shallcross, cottingham hull 27 September 2007

keep up the great start. hope you all finish the leg safe and well and in first place.and sam see you at mart and shirls for a b-b-q when you get back. all the best john, lisa ,amber and oliver.

10. Tim, Ull 27 September 2007

Whoa! Great job to sort things out guys! Well done for perservering and untangling. What happens to the pony tail when inverted? The race viewer shows you back on top of the fleet. Andy - where’s your hair gone mate? Tim

11. Sandra, Duncan + Jack, Hull 27 September 2007

Well done to all the H+H crew, keeping the boat speeed up with all that wrap around the forestay. Well done Sam and Danny on saving the spinnaker ( Sam’s wrist must be better now)! Hope you all managed to see the whales and dolphins, as Sam usually misses them. Keep going for it, stay safe and enjoy.
Love Sam’s Mum, Dad and brother x

12. Nick Muir, UK 27 September 2007

Nigel

I hope the book has been useful.

Nick

13. Barbara Smith, Dunchurch Warks 27 September 2007

Hi to Adrienne and all the crew of Hull and Humber. Following your every move!! Well done for your great recovery from a difficult night.
Keep up the good work - it’s really exciting watching from the comfort of a soft bed!!!

Barb xxx

14. Peter Byrne, UK 27 September 2007

Hi everyone - what a fantastic effort! I cannot really imagine what you are going through (and went through the other night!). I’m really impressed and, like Anne, very worried about joining you on Leg 3. You are true Ocean Racers!!! Keep going!!! Pete

15. Yarborough Primary School, grimsby 28 September 2007

Dear Hull and Humber
We are following your up and down journey on the internet of the Clipper 07-08 race.It has been a wonderful thrill. Good luck for the rest of the trip.We are watching you closely.
From Jess,Jamie and J3
P.S Rachel thank you sending us a Postcard from La Rochelle.

16. Emma Davies, Brigg 28 September 2007

Heck, having just read your comments, I find myself breathless and somewhat anxious for you all! Thank goodness Danny has you all whipped into shape! Keep up the good work, and fingers crossed no more hanging around on the mast! xx

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