Hi Folks,
With less than 2,000 nautical miles to go, and with good winds for most of this course, it is starting to feel like we are on the home stretch. Not to say there isn't more that the Dell Latitude Rugged Race can't throw at us, but that is the current feeling.
A mythical creature has emerged on our boat yesterday - a Nano (Fernando Antia Bernardez). For the past weeks this little guy has been buried under more than seven layers of clothing, 42 balaclavas and neck buffs, and 15 socks (not pairs). This Uruguayan species is known for partial hibernation during upwind sailing merely scuttling from its resting cave for brief stints outside to perform daily duties and feed on its life source of Dulce de Leche before returning to the warmth of its Ocean Sleepwear cocoon.
However, once the season (read wind) turns and the leaves change from thick, sharp needles (read white sails) to lighter, rounder shapes (read spinnakers) and the sun emerges he begins to shed his layers and his activity levels rise. The excitement is palpable as he scurries over the deck readying it for the new downwind season with a crescendo of feverish energy as he makes the dart across the pit avoiding the many snakes living there to take up his new residence at the top of the mountain (read helm cage).
This is the natural environment of this Southern Hemisphere species and it is clear to tell this is where it finds itself most comfortable. We here have been fortunate to observe this fantastic but often overlooked unique phenomenon in nature.
All else is well on the Pink Panther but we eye the southerly boats in their strong winds with caution. We also get set to charge across the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint (great watches by the way) in less than 400 nautical miles. And special thanks to Eric Miglin for painstaking and time-consuming repair work today.
Think Pink.
Ta,
Lance
P.S. “Sanka, ya dead...?” GREAT Britain Andy, you are definitely my favourite. Quoting that John Candy masterpiece (Cool Runnings) is one of my favourite past times.
"So, what's it going to be star? What are we going to call her?"
"How about Cool Runnings?"
"Ok, ok, so what does it mean?"
“It means.... peace be the journey.”