Race 4 - Day 9
Skipper Report
11 December

To wallow or not to wallow? That is the question! Unfortunately, we do not have a choice and wallowing is exactly what we are doing. I can promise you all sat at home that there is nothing worse than a wind hole when there is somewhere you have to be. They say light winds make the best sailors! I'm not too sure what else I could be doing at this minute to be better other than developing larger lungs so I could blow into the sails really hard.

On Legs 1, 2 and 3 I would leave the helm in Simons Speirs’ capable hands, also known as the wind whisperer. I would head down for some sleep and emerge a few hours later having magically covered ground that I didn't think was possible. I don't have that luxury but there are a number of budding wind whisperer apprentices in the wings so fingers crossed and watch this space.

I managed to take some time sat on the bowsprit earlier after a gybe. I must say the Tasmanian coast line is absolutely phenomenal and I feel extremely lucky to be able to experience it in this way. There was a pod of around 10 dolphins dancing around the bow as I took it all in. They treat the boat as an extra-large dolphin as they raced in and out of the bow wave - unfortunately as soon as our speed dropped off they too dropped off and we became less interesting to them.

Yesterday Anton Mitchell lent me his iPod. I have been without any music up until now. He was extremely worried the contents may be a little before my time but to his surprise and no surprise to my friends and family I loved listening to Elton John’s number 1 love songs, a bit of Eva Cassidy and Gerry Rafferty, all my faves.

So back to the wind hole!! We are still in it and the weather doesn't look to get any easier into Sydney. Catch you all tomorrow with some more windless blogging!! What is sailing without wind anyway? Bobbing I guess.

Let Peace be the Journey

Andy and the GREAT Britain Team