Race 1 - Day 6
Crew Diary - The Final Stretch
08 September

Mary Vaughan-Jones
Mary Vaughan-Jones
Team Punta del Este
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We are currently on our final stretch into Portimao, with about 60nm to go. Spirits are high as the weather is warmer, dolphins are jumping around our bow, and we can practically taste the beer waiting for us in port now. We also heard this morning that Punta Del Este has had its first victory (hopefully of many) of the Clipper 19-20 race: we came 1st by over an hour on the Ocean Sprint- VAMOS PUNTA!! Big props to our star helmers that handled gusts of c. 40 knots; Jeronimo, Ryan, Nano and Dario. It was the first taste of ocean sailing for many of us, having never sailed outside the channel before and despite the constant soaking of sea water and driving winds I think we’d all happily do it again. Which is lucky seeing as we have quite a way to go until Punta Del Este.

Unfortunately, we’ve damaged two of our kites and Andrew our hard working sail repair man has been up through the night to fix several small holes in our Code 2. Excellent at repairing sails but we could have done without the wailing karaoke we got throughout the night…!

As this blog is being written we have just left Visit Sanya, China in our wake, partially due to excellent tactics from our Skipper and mate, partially due to the wrap we saw them suffering from. Either way we’ll take it. We’re currently hunting down Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam - they’re in our sight and we have every intention to overtake them to add any extra points possible to our current 3. Everyone is on the low side and even sails have been moved below to get that optimum heel, we have every intention we’ll keep on climbing up from our current 6th position, despite the wind hole we’re now sat in!

Punta Del Este is a great team and as a crew we are now meshing nicely and getting into the swing of things. A shower and cold drink will be much appreciated but I’m also looking forward to cracking on and heading to Punta Del Este on the next race.

SPANISH VERSION

Actualmente estamos en la recta final hacia Portimao, a unas 60 millas nauticas. El animo esta altoa medida que la temperatura va subiendo yendo hacia el sur, tenemos delfines que nos acompanan en la proa y ya podemos saborear la cerveza fria que nos espera al llegar a puerto. Esta manana hemos celebrado la primera victoria del equipo Punta del Este (la primera de muchas) de la regata Clipper 19-20. Llegamos primeros, por mas de una hora, en el Ocean Sprint….VAMOS PUNTA!!! Merecido recognozimiento especial a nuestros canas Jeronimo, Ryan, Dario y Nano, que aguantaron rafagas de mas de 40 nudos. Fue nuestro primer contacto de navegacion oceanica para muchos de nosotros, y a pesar de estar empapados y aguantar vientos fortisimios, creo que todos lo volveriamos a vivir otra vez. Es una buena senal, ya que todavia nos queda un trecho largo hasta llegar a Punta del Este. La parte negativa es que hemos roto dos de nuestros spis. Andrew, nuestro sail repair, ha estado trabajando a destajo durante la noche para intentar poner parches a dos agujeros del Code 2. Increible reparando velas, pero seguramente nos podriamos haber ahorrado un poco de vendaval durante la noche!

Al mismo tiempo que escribimos este blog, acabamos de dejar atras a Sanya, en parte gracias a la excelente tactica de nuestro patron y mate, y en parte a que Sanya ha sufrido un wrap. Tenemos a Ha Long Bay a la vista, en nuestra proa, y estamos trabajando como locos para alcanzarles y sobreparasarles, y asi anadir mas puntos a los 3 que ya tenemos. Estamos todos a sotavento, hasta las velas del sail locker, y trabajando como locos para mejorar nuestra sexta posiciion aunque acabamos de entrar en un parche de poco viento.

Punta del Este es un gran equipo y el equipo esta acostumbrandose a vivir y navegar juntos. Tengo ganas de una ducha y una bebida fria pero a la vez me alegro de continuar la regata hasta Punta del Este!

- Mary and Clara