Race 2 - Day 7
Skipper Report
22 September
Morning All
We have now started our leg away from the African Coast and towards the ITCZ corridor. Zhuhai gybed a little earlier than us and have pulled a 20 mile lead out on us, but I held off to get the stronger winds inshore. WTC Logistics seemed to do the same, after a couple of days close racing with Nick and Mark, lets see who will come out ahead as we head west and south. I must admit I miss the passing gybes, us ahead, them, then us etc. Maybe we meet again mid Atlantic.
For the first time since we had to detour for our broken main halyard, it would seem that we have the more favorable and stronger winds than the boats up front, so perhaps we can start to play catch up. Be nice to start closing the gap between us and the front of the fleet. The crew are pushing hard and taking advantage of the winds and are thoroughly enjoying the great sailing conditions. And every day the helmsman are improving, the courses are getting straighter and straighter, the bag (spinnaker) flogs less and less, and the surfs are getting faster and lasting longer. Great work guys, well done.
The flying fish have started and we are getting more and more landing on the deck. Smelly annoying things, and they really do hurt when they actually hit you, a lot like a paintball pellet impact. They seem to travel in squadrons, seeking out some poor unaware/unsuspecting yacht to target and then samurai out of the water trying to take out the crew...
Otherwise, life on board continues as normal and all the crew are well. Which is great as today is a week at sea since our start in Portimão. A long slow week, with loads of frustration looking at GRIB files and trying to claw back, but there are many more to come and fortunes do change.
So while you lie in bed with your Sunday paper, take a moment to think of the crew out here. On deck in the dark, watching the stars go by, and one Japanese fishing vessel, concentrating on the helm, trim and deck work, while others are below baking bread for breakfast and a few more in bed recuperating for their turn on deck. Slightly different to a lazy Sunday at home. I know where my crew would rather be.
Out here in the Atlantic... :)
Cheers and enjoy your Sunday
Chat later
Wavy, Fabian and crew