Race 10 - Day 11
Skipper Report
11 May
Hello team,
Well its “Fizz” Friday again. Another week shot by and how are you doing? This end it has for the first time felt like tropical sailing; hot on deck and a sun that was packing a punch.
Broad brimmed hats and plenty of sun cream have been the order of the day. Although now, as we slip into night watches, no one has yet braved shorts on deck during the hours of darkness, I have a feeling that is only a day or so away.
So, sailing wise we are once again on a broad reach, port tack, flying the Code 2 (Mediumweight Spinnaker). We are flying the Code 2 not due to increased winds but unfortunately out of necessity. Last night, just after submitting my last blog, I handed over to Trevor and foolishly stated, “The wind is far more stable tonight, pretty consistent in speed and direction. The helms are having an easier night, so should be drama free.” (Oh, how the wind Gods, fine people that they are, must have had a little chuckle over that).
Fast forward 2 hours and enter John MaClennan, aka “Bletchley”*, onto the helming station. Yes, that's right, the same one who wrote a blog about how carefully we have been “mothering” our Code 1 (Lightweight Spinnaker). A short time into his session, a leeward collapse and “BANG”. Possibly the leech caught on the spreader, but the leech line was torn out and just for good measure “Zorro” must have dashed off the coast at that moment and left his trademark “Z” across it as well. So, as luck would have it, it all occurred on a watch change, so some excellent team work recovered, the damaged kite and shortly afterwards the Code 2 was flying and normal service resumed.
Now Mr Hilton, I know at this news, you will be pacing the floor and worrying. Firstly, about the Code 1, which is still known as the Code 1, it’s a sail. Secondly about the sail repair team and the fact that they are here and you are there. Well, a couple of things, firstly they all said “Oh Jeremy would of loved this, he would be all over it, dishing out the TLC.” Secondly, sail repair teams are a bit like your children, eventually you have to let them go to keep them ;-) Beanie and Faith are on the case and already counting the number of drinks “Bletchley”* owes them.
On other matters, we have been somewhat indulged with wildlife today. This morning a turtle swam past, we exchanged pleasantries. He asked to be remember to Maggie and Ian, whom only today emailed me saying about the number of turtles they remembered seeing in this part of the world. Small world. Then later there was a big display of dolphin, as they were clearly “balling” up a school of fish and getting very excited over their dinner. Then to round the day off we spotted three whales, all heading north and one came close to the GREAT Britain boat and looked us in the eye. They were grey whales heading up to Alaska.
The GREAT Britain Stats from our midday meeting; distance run 24hrs 211nm, of which 203nm (92% which is pretty impressive if we say so ourselves, acknowledging that “self praise is no praise”) was DMG. DTA is 1969nm meaning we have completed 51.9% of the race distance. The other fact that goes with this is we have only logged 2068nm which shows how favourable the wind direction has been to date.
Oh, did you know? Alexander Graham Bell may have invented the telephone, but his wife and mother had little use for it, they were both deaf.
Tricky Thursday teaser answer: she was his mother.
Standing by this channel – out
Dave
“Bletchley”* = Bletchley Park, home of the famous code breakers.