Race 3 - Day 17
Skipper Report
17 November

Chris Kobusch
Chris Kobusch
Team Qingdao
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We are flying. The westerly winds filled in and we had a great run under spinnaker all day yesterday until the wind got too strong and we had to drop the kite altogether.

Until then it was a day of champagne sailing with a clear blue sky, moderate temperatures (some crew were seen in t-shirts again), perfect steady winds and a nice long rolling swell for good surfs. Trough out the night we sailed under mainsail and staysail and we were still doing 10+ knots, which means Fremantle is approaching quicker and quicker.

With about 300 nautical miles to the start of the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint, it is time to have a look at the weather for the sprint and bring the boat into a favourable. The limitations for the Yankees (no Y1, Y2 up to 15 knots, Y3 up to 24 knots) due to some forestay shackle issues being investigated across the fleet bring a new tactical aspect to the rest of the race. Again, on Leg 3, as on the two previous ones, the racing is ridiculously close and it will be a sprint to the finish.

Fair winds and a following sea!

Chris