Race 12 - Day 7
Crew Diary - NEW YORK, USA TO DERRY-LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND
27 June
Well Hello and good morning from a happy, clean, sunny Telemedian. Boat time is 07.36am and bears no resemblance to any other time zone. We currently exist in a wide, calm, circle of ocean - a world of our very own. Our home has recently tilted it its own axis - this new season sees those of us who were living on the high side transferred to low and vice versus; this has led to an explosion of new bunk entering and exiting techniques which in turn has led to some new bruises to add to our growing collection. Occasional visitors to our isolated planet arrive in the form of dolphins - either in large pods with young or smaller groups of males and often a lone, young male probably searching for a pod of his own (or so we believe).
Today we begin another day of trimming for every knot of boat speed, a series of sedate and steady adjustments. Yesterday was a similar experience but pleasantly contrasted with a mad hour or so of super speedy action - featuring the fastest power bolan ever seen by Tom, preceded by the world's fastest ever kite wooling.
As the wind dropped suddenly during the middle of a jibe the spinnaker was in danger - wrapping and unwrapping and leaving us looking up, holding our breath.
Eventually we were forced to drop our sail to rewool and then rehoist. Whilst the details of the mission will not make exciting reading for many - what was really special was the team response.
The event occurred at watch changeover and so everyone was available and everyone participated.
It was the first time I have seen so many individuals above and below deck focussed on an immediate and particular mission. The kite was rewooled so fast that when it was announced it was ready to be hauled back on deck and rehoisted that Ryan thought we must have misunderstood which sail they were asking for. The look of surprise turned rapidly into amazement and was a personal highlight of the day.
Everyone wants to let their friends and family know that we are well, happy and sailing as fast as we can to see you and speak with you in Derry-Londonderry. We are excited and trying hard to hold our position - driven, as always by knowing you are following us and wishing us along...we hope we have made some good tactical decisions - fingers crossed we have made our course and weather judgements wisely.
Hi Isabella - I hope you are having fun monkeying around and looking after Sam for me. Please can you give Harrison a big cuddle for me and next time you see Grandad you can tell him I sent you a special message from the middle of the ocean. Love you very much and missing you all, Aunty Jo
Happy Birthday Matthew, hope you enjoyed your trip to India John.
Neil - missing you Linda and family xx