Angus, if you're reading this, I'm still wearing the pirate costume. GARRRR
It's been a good start to the race and we're figuring out how to navigate secondary low-pressure systems that are being created to the side of the large low-pressure system in front of us.
In terms of fleet position, we have created a nice little front pack with Dare To Lead and I think we are finding the constant AIS updates on speed and positioning a useful motivational tool to push hard towards the Scoring Gate.
As is often the story with races in the Southern Hemisphere, from east to west, there are a series of fleet compressions. This is where low pressure systems head east, allowing the leaders of the pack to extend their lead. However, when they fall off the back of the low, they are likely to be caught by the boats behind who are riding a new low coming east. So exciting racing and frustrating sched watching for me and Ini, as we see the others posting fast and consistent boat speeds, as we post boring 7s and 7.5s.
Anyway, up the seadogs! We're doing well, and other than a Yankee 2 that we have to repair (mostly my fault) the boat is in tip top shape.
Almost half our team are new and they're settling in great. It's really cool to watch crew members who've learned so much on Leg 1 start to coach and teach the oncoming crew what they've learned.
As a team were feeling the loss of our off-going crew. Nils for his calming, quiet, presence and his title 'The Danish King of Packing'. Paul for his gritty 'get the job done' attitude in the face of a sore back and his kind coaching of others on the helm. David, we will miss your smile, your dancing and also your daily karate routine. Alex, the sartorial elegance of your grey crocs with orange piping was never lost on me, thanks for the constant smile and the media work. Andre, you were a constant hard worker, you don't look like any professor that I've met, but you certainly are one. Michael, you are a pure soul and a sweet man, I hope we see you soon. Finally, Jackie(I mean Jan), thanks for the solid helming when I needed it, and everything else, your dog is still in the nav station and is coming the whole way round the world.
In terms of sea life, I had been starting to doubt the calls of 'whale!' every time there was a particularly vertical bit of sea spray, but the call went up today and a pod of pilot whales was jumping along beside us. We continue to be followed by swarms of albatross, whoever described them as solitary seabirds needs to get out of the house and do the Clipper Race. An ancestor of mine, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, had a serious run in with an albatross during an opioid induced fever dream which he transcribed in poem form 'The Ryme of the Ancient Mariner'. I'm determined not to mess with them and avoid hitting them at all costs when they're taking a break from flying.
Joss, Ini and the Seadogs
P.S. Thanks Alice, Lolo, and Walt for the playlists. Mary Whallopers are an amazing band and 'Frost is All Over' is especially good if you're trying your hardest to be a pirate.