Race 13 - Day 2
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland to Den Helder, Netherlands
19 July

Helen Hancorn
Helen Hancorn
Team Qingdao
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The stopover in Derry was amazing. It was lovely to see my friends Lucie, Tracey, Paul, Garrie and Pam. Also good to try the Guinness!

I was looking forward to getting on the boat for the last couple of races and we had such a large crowd seeing us off. After our parade of sail we motored out to Greencastle for the start line.

There were more crowds there to see us off and they had a good view of all the boats. We all had our mainsail Yankee 1 and staysail up to start and we were the first ones over the start line. I noticed LMAX Exchange were the first to drop their stay sail and get their lightweight spinnaker up.

We soon followed along with the other boats although some had put up their medium weight. We were all very close.

We kept our lightweight up until 2300 and were just discussing how we could change from the light weight sheets to the heavy ones when our active sheet snapped. Luckily we managed to keep the kite flying using the recovery line then get her down safely. A remarkable job!!! We hoisted the Yankee and staysail and didn't lose much time in doing so with the lightweight safely tucked in her bag.

After a sunny start to the race we had a down pour and the rain has been on and off ever since.

We have all got into our boat routines now and getting back to life on the boat as if we have never been off.

I am hoping the beat down in the North Sea isn't too choppy!!! Looking forward to getting there quickly and some time in Den Helder before the final race home back to London.

Hi to all my family missing you all and can’t wait for the big hugs in London. It’s going to be emotional. xxx

Helen Hancorn

Legs 5 and 8