Crew Blog

Fogbound off Mexico

30 April 2008

Day 6 of Race 9 finds Nova Scotia some 200 nautical miles northwest of Cabo San Lucas (our first waypoint) and 2,000 nautical miles from Panama, sailing under spinnaker in a light north-westerly breeze. This morning we sailed into thick fog. As the Newfoundlander would say, “Black tik wit fog, Buy. Can’t see nuddin’.” The sky is gradually clearing now, however. The bright sunshine that we have been enjoying is returning.

This is definitely a down-wind race, but it is not the sleigh ride we had expected, or was experienced in the last race, where a 24-hour run of 284 nautical miles was recorded. Despite a roaring start out of Santa Cruz and good 24-hour runs for the first days, we are now averaging only about 160 nautical miles per day, which will not put us into Panama by the scheduled arrival date of 11 May.

We have employed all 3 spinnakers, as well as the Windseeker, gybing and wriggling around in the predominantly light winds, trying to gain the best course to our first waypoint and put more distance between us and the other boats. We have been lucky so far in that wear and tear to the spinnakers has been minimal. Last night we managed to punch a hole in Mr. 0.75 - fortunately the wound was not fatal, but we need to concentrate on keeping battle damage to a minimum.

However, the spinnaker that always remains below decks, the Cast Iron
Spinnaker, is waiting patiently. He knows that if the winds remain light, and we can’t manage the miles needed to get us into Panama on time, he will be pressed into service once again. The big, white flappy things will be put away and the throttle will go down. The crew are already anticipating the stops in exotic Mexican and Central American ports to pick up the needed Go Juice and, of course, cervezas. Ole!

Roll on Panama! (67 days to Liverpool!)

The Mother of All Mothers and Mother Board
(Paul & Chris)