After our slow, cautious period whilst we dealt with some maintenance issues, Nasdaq is up and racing again, albeit within the reduced wind limits for sail plans which have been imposed across the fleet for rig safety. As ever, crew safety remains the top priority and obviously that depends heavily on the safety of the yacht. We have completed the necessary inspections and additional safety precautions prescribed by the Clipper Race Rigger (Hi Greg!), and although we are affected by the fleet-wide forestay issues, we are able to resume racing.
In terms of the racing, it's interesting to see the fleet converging once again, as we each plot our best entry point and route across the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint, which for us looks as though it will begin overnight tomorrow. Plans are being made for a concerted effort across both watches to get the best possible speed between two lines of longitude. From our current position, we at least have the advantage of being able to watch the leading boats' track and speed, to help pick our course.
It's a very monochrome day down here in the Southern Ocean today - dark grey seas slowly building under a solid light grey sky, with the occasional patch of mid-grey cloud scudding past from the south west. Even the birdlife comes in shades of grey - the familiar little light ones, big dark ones and the multi-tone albatrosses are still following around us. We do have the crew's waterproof outer layers to break the monotony - with wind from the south west it's cold enough again now that yellow dry suits are mixed in with the red foulies, so that the deck resembles a pool table, or a Connect Four grid. Luckily our Irish pit-boss Clare Lavin can always be relied upon for some colourful language to brighten the scene.
Cheers, Rob.