Hello Punta del Este followers; Ryan here again.
Well I'm happy to say that, after a hard fought night we have regained all the positions we had lost in yesterday’s antics rounding Virtual Mark (VM) Knox-Johnston. Not only that, but we had pulled away a good seven miles from our closest competitors to our "race within a race" that includes Zhuhai, Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam and Visit Sanya, China. The beauty of ocean racing however, is just as we sigh a small breath of content that our hard work is paying off, the mother of all clouds rolls in, spanning the whole horizon and a low lying defined ridge cloud crept across the sky. With a nice consistent breeze leading up to the edge of the cloud mass, the wind took a dramatic shift (nearly 100 degree shift veering from 200 degrees to 300). Quick to follow was the heavy warm rain. Then, as the rain came and went, it left with our wind. Leaving us in a choppy confused sea state with no wind watching as the chasing fleet come to meet us in the same fate and that oh so familiar sound of loud flogging Dacron. A couple hours later to be spat back out where we started within a couple miles of each other.
Although Visit Sanya, China opted for an early tack option, the team missed the majority of the lighter breeze and gained the pack lead. The importance of this pack lead can’t be overstated. Turning our attention, a day or so down the line, the Scoring Gates will be our next big tactical question mark. As it stands; Qingdao and Unicef are holding the lead, potentially one gate will be stripped of five of its available six points, leaving the other gate ripe for the picking; or an even split. Leaving three points (two for second / one for third) either side for the next four teams to fight it out. But just in this scenario another door is opened for discussion. We then must consider which is the favourable gate in terms of angle of approach and distance from the rhumb line and potential positions lost in search of the gate.
Needless to say, the next day and half is going to be very important, with the tactical fickle winds now followed by the strong monsoon rains descending from the north against the current we have our hands full. And on top of all that because of the option for team swaps in the last race we have lost one of our best helmers and with a deteriorating bearing in the steering (makes it feel like your helming with the break on). As always however, we are up for the challenge and really pushing for a good result this race. So, stay tuned for “Return to Subic - Part 2” thanks for reading.
Cheers,
Ryan Barkey
Daily Stats:
Tune of the day: Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
Daily Run: 140nm
Max boat speed: 12 knots
Sea life spotted: really amazing phosphorescent plums in the sea looked like lighting clouds just under the surface.
Sailing manoeuvres (sail changes, tacks and gybes): couple tacks and gybes
Drinks consumed: coffee, coffee and more coffee
Meal of the day: pancakes (fluffy ones)
Crew of the day: Pip for just being Pip
Tip of the day: In light winds always be away of the main sheet especially running down wind (Foreguys are your best friends)