Well. The race is getting interesting, as predicted. The set up is “How do you position for the area of light winds around the corner of Brisbane?” Well, we looked and we looked. Initially, I had favoured inshore but that had let people down on this coastline. I would suggest the fires of the east coast of Australia, producing a thick smog even 100s of miles out to sea are also having their own effects on the wind from a thermal point of view. One might first assume that would produce the equivalent of a thermal increase in breeze but it doesn't seem to be the case. Scribble out that idea then.
The coast has a big south-going current anyway so you wouldn't want to be near that now. So, we set about circumnavigating the stagnant area of no wind and that would take us into favourable tide. In step Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, who have paved that way forward. Hmmm, but I just don't like it. It's too far, doesn’t cover the boats behind, and leaves one totally out on a limb. Imagine your Korea who we were tussling with for second place, were heading in that direction too. I realised if we continued eastbound, we would also be the last to receive the wind coming from the south.
We turned about, and started heading westward once more. You see, if you look hard enough, there's a narrow corridor between two southerly avenues of tide that allow us in neutral or positive tide and also provide a good opportunity to collect the southerly breeze early. We are now in that southerly breeze, making 10 knots in a NNE direction so all good there. The benefit of this is that last look at the weather there appears to be an opening cut into the area of no wind. The south going breeze converges along the shore pushing its way north.
The hope is that this will reduce the number of miles we do in light winds. So the three advances.
Zhuhai and GoToBermuda opted to stay inshore hoping to collect the southerly breeze for making a jump forwards. We went for a middle ground trying to maximise on both wind and current. Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam have gone round the outside in order to keep the strongest favourable tide and ever so slightly more wind but at the cost of many many more miles.
Time will tell, and whilst we look at odds and averages These areas of high pressure are painful. There's a huge difference between little and no wind and when the forecast is less than 5 knots there is very little accuracy in speed and direction.
One thing I will tell you, for what it's worth. The first boat around the next corner and into pressure will stand a great chance of winning the race.
That's all from me, until tomorrow where the story will unfold just a piece at a time... stay tuned.
P.S. Big Hi to Leigh Sailing club and to Tim Grigsby, who is going to move my Lotus for me for it to be worked on... Unless anyone else offers.
Big shout to all the family and friends of everyone onboard. To Richard Roberts who I miss greatly and to Karen and Jon and of course it wouldn't be right not to mention Charley and Tarly, whilst special mentions are being made. Also Paul and Andrea thanks for following too :)