Race 7 - Day 4
Crew Diary - Race 7 Day 4
26 February
Frenzied flying fish flee fast front formed furious foaming fluid. Forward forging our prow plunges into the waiting waves. Gallons of water thrust sideways as skimming, darting they escape. Dwarfing our bilge buckets the sea is sent sideways several metres at a time.
There has been a literal as well as metaphorical sea change in our progress. From late yesterday evening we have been well-heeled; to port. A huge pleasure to once again hear the rush of water against the hull. To be pressed up against the port cave locker as you rest, cuddled by the sea and the boat. No longer does it seem as though the round-the-islands race will take a month in its own right. We are aiming to chase down the fleet, although they seem determined to try to pull away. Lots of concentration and racing ahead.
I know that you know that I know that you know that the ocean sprint declarations are in and the double or triple bluff and psychology of which one to choose has ended up in the interesting position of two boats racing south with guaranteed points, and the other nine of us competing for three available points. It will be fun. Spreadsheets at the ready to work out who might lead these very short sprints, only 2 degrees of latitude in either direction. 120 nm is not far or long at 8-15kn.
In the last day or so we passed close to yet another rusty oil barrel, something we’ve seen a lot of. Not quite the ocean drifter buoys that we are deploying as a fleet to monitor weather and currents.
Yesterday we saw something else though. Two small fishing boats near a barrel, motoring around it laying a net or line. Looks like these have a purpose for the local fishermen. Just a bit of an unmarked hazard to a fibreglass racing yacht. With a multi-compartment design they are of less risk to us than many, but still not something you want to have scratching our paintwork! Eyes peeled. Plenty of carrots for meals.
Got to go and get the wind in my hair again while I can.
Fair winds to you all.
James Anderson