Ello folks! Well it's certainly been a more enjoyable introduction to racing than it was coming out of Bermuda. Our top speed 'so far' (to quote Sir Robin) has been 17.2knts with a full Main and a Code 3. We're in a pretty competitive fleet by the looks of things - nobody is hanging around! As it stands we're waiting for this front to pass over, but alas nothing yet.
Today we came a little too close for comfort to a whale and we had to swerve to get out of their way, but the whale didn't seem to mind us. Also on the sea life front I saw the fattest dolphin I've ever seen, and I've seen thousands of 'em - this got me pondering - I wonder if I've ever met the same dolphin twice?
Well, it's currently sunset at the time of writing, and the temperature is dropping so it's shorts and a fleece for now. We best keep pushing to the Scoring Gate - it's going to be under serious contention with currently seven boats in the mix. We've only 28 days 'til London so we really should get a wriggle on.
'Fread': I hope you enjoyed your first surf and caught some gnarly waves... We caught a couple, maxing out at 20.2 knots.
Two last bits of news, Harpo and Gerard are Mothers tomorrow so it's not a Sunday roast (we tried it but it wasn't worth the faff) but we'll all get steak - fillets no less! Just no red wine I'm afraid.
And in MASSIVE news, I could argue that technically tomorrow, myself, Harpo (Jim Day), Manuel Yersin, Jacqui Webb and Jac Kavanagh become Circumnavigators. If you look at our position on a globe and go directly south you'll see that we end up in line with Punta del Este in Uruguay! But for me it shan't be over till we get this little boat back to Gosport… Queue... clap, whipping, and dusting off of hands.
Right, best get back to this racing malarkey. Unfortunately we have found ourselves, through my own fault, in a little lighter breeze than expected so it's back to helm helm helm, trim trim trim.
Song of the day Marcia Griffiths, Don't Let Me Down (Paolo Nutini also does a good version both worth a listen and yes I know the Beatles were the original and yes it's very, very good too.)
Josh, Maisie and the crew of Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam.