Race 1 - Day 5
Skipper Report
07 September

Morning All

Sorry I am a bit late, we were in the process of hoisting the spinnaker. Check, double check and then check again, all in the hope of what Ben, Skipper of Seattle, brilliantly calls "kitemares". She is up and flying beautifully. As Skipper, there really is something incredibly satisfying when all the crew work together to achieve one goal or another and it works very well and looks good in the process. I am a lucky Skipper in that respect, my crew are great.

Well yesterday was a brilliant day of sailing. We made our way to the next "virtual mark", in a growing blow, trying to make inch for inch with the rest of the fleet - unsuccessfully, I might add. Well sailed, Dare To Lead! Nonetheless, really great sailing - wet and wild.

We ended up surfing at a top end of 23.4 knots, and wow what a rush... On one of the surfs during the afternoon, Callum Brown was on the helm and took off, at 20+ knots, and then followed this with his first broach. This, in my opinion, is just part of sailing and if it does not happen you are not pushing hard enough. Anyway, it is quite an eye opener to happen to you for the first time, let alone on the helm, especially on a Clipper 70... Well "Brilliant Man" as he says in his Scottish accent, he is on the helm now, calling "trim" to the crew like it never happened. Talk about getting back on the horse.

As I said earlier, I have a great crew.

Cheers

Chat later

Wavy