Race 6 - Day 14
Crew Diary - Trying to make the boat go faster
05 February

Tracy Corkett

Team

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As a team, even when the wind (and the data) is against us, we are, and will continue to keep on trying to eat into the miles (no number is too small) on the pack ahead of us.

Both watches are putting in whatever is asked of them, in still very hot (and now wet) changing and unpredictable conditions, in order to make our boat go faster. To give you an indication, in the last 24 hours (based on log entries), we have:

Head Sails

◦Raised and dropped the staysail six times

◦Raised and dropped the Yankee 1 four times

Spinnakers

◦Got the Windseeker on deck. Put the wind seeker up. Took the wind seeker down, thankfully with so little wind, we were able to flake it on deck whilst dropping it, and place it straight into the bag.

◦Got the Code 1 on deck, and then put it back into the sail locker – wedidn’t hoist (after the wind changed its mind)

◦Got the Code 1 back on deck and flew it for a couple of hours, before dropping, wooling, and bagging it

◦Got the Code 2 on deck (whilst heeled at 45 degrees, in the dark and the pouring rain), only to hoist it and drop it within minutes, because the wind dropped off suddenly. We then still had to wool and bag it again before the end of the watch, which is an extremely sweaty task in still very hot conditions.

◦As I type this, the other watch have just dropped the Code 1 and replaced it with the Code 2 as the wind has picked up, and dare I say it, we break away from the wind holes! Whatever you believe in, please pray for continued wind for us….

The log doesn’t capture all of the other efforts and on-deck activities that we’re working hard on (day and night), such as:

Trimming (at least as frequently as the wind changes) – involves someone on the foredeck calling trim back to someone in the pit, who adjusts the sheets accordingly

The tough task of feeling, and helming to an ever changing wind direction, with acute precision needed to keep within a range of apparent wind angles (AWA), dependent on wind speed and course over ground (cog). We’re opting for speed rather than a fixed course.

As an entire watch, shifting weight from windward and leeward, based on the optimal heel we’re trying to achieve

Running the spinnaker sheets, only to un-run (is that a word?) and alternate between light and heavy-weight sheets depending on the kite we’re potentially going to hoisting

‘Kevin’ (CV28’s new nickname) has currently got her go-faster stripes on and we’re now confident on being able to make some good miles over the coming days. We just left Dare To Lead (or as we now call her – Dare To Follow) in our wake, and we’ll certainly be trying to catch the pack ahead.

In other news, I’m very happy that Kezza, Netty, Nerys and Midge are also adapting to the changing conditions, and will now be joining us in Subic Bay, Philipines in just over a week. As you can see, we’re working hard to get there quickly and to enjoy a cold beverage (or ten!) with you. Safe travels!

… and out, TC the shellback (of Oreo W Watch)