Hi everyone,
So finally, our Stage 2 (we are splitting the race into four stages) is complete crossing the Scoring Gate in third place after lunchtime today, getting an additional one bonus point for Race 10.
I think I expressed our feelings for Stage 2 and the big detour for the Scoring Gate in the last blog, so we are just glad to finally get up and across the Scoring Gate, forgetting about the frustrations and concentrating on Stage 3 ahead.
Stage 3 is from the Scoring Gate to the Ocean Sprint, so the big middle part of the Pacific Ocean. This will be a good test with a big low pressure developing above Hawaii moving north in front of our path, so we look forward to the fast transit through the low and making good progress to the Ocean Sprint.
Life on board is good, downwind conditions since last night have been welcome after the few days upwind into the high pressure system. Plus, the rain has stopped allowing us to air the boat out and the dampness has gotten a lot better since.
A few jobs are being carried out today since we have nice weather, and we will likely change to our smaller Code 3 downwind sail from the biggest Code 1 before dark, since the wind is expected to increase later tonight into tomorrow. We tore our Code 2 badly on Day 7, and after getting half the repair done, the sewing machine stopped functioning, meaning we cannot fix it until Seattle. So, we have no Code 2 spinnaker which is most likely the most important sail for this race. Anyway, we will make do with what we have and make sure we find the good balance between flying the Code 1 and 3 but most importantly look after the Code 1 as we can't afford to damage it badly.
We all look forward to seeing some more wildlife since leaving the China Sea but have only seen sharks and dolphins so far, plus a few albatross. I sailed into Seattle before on a yacht and remember lots of humpback whales breaching between San Fransisco and Seattle entrance, plus lots of orcas on the passage into Seattle, so hopefully we get the same this time!
Otherwise, crew have finally all recovered from the flu we had onboard, energy is back, and we look forward to some hard fast sailing the next two weeks into Seattle!
Bye for now,
Ryan, Charlie and crew