Hello Qingers,
Well guys, it’s been a hard couple of days. After finishing the Ocean Sprint at the lead of the fleet we had a hard day searching out every wind hole available and finding ourselves bobbing around with no wind while some of those around us managed to miss the hole or not be caught for long.
We, unfortunately, were caught and managed to work our way back to ninth position, that we know of. We watched as other boats came from behind and skirted around the hole. Some sailing at up to 9kts around and past us from a number of miles behind while we were stopped. Hard to watch but not much we could do about it.
Anyway, as we got out of the hole, we hoisted our spinnaker and have since made some good progress and are lying somewhere mid fleet. Still a long way to go and with some hard work we may be able to make up more places. Here’s hoping!
Today, we have been able to find the time to make some repairs to the boat. Our ‘coffee grinders’ needed some love, supplied in reams by our Yorkshire team of Phil and Dave. They are now up and running again ready for the different winds to come that will take us home to Qingdao.
On a separate note, you may have noticed that it is the 17th of March. St Patrick’s day for the Irish, and everyone who knows how to have ‘the craic’ on board. OK, so the Irish bit only applies to me but still, today we should paint the sea green and enjoy the craic, (no Guinness though). It’s what we intend to do all the way to race finish.
Well done Ireland on a 6 nations win.
Slainte
Love to those at home,
Phil, Henry and the dragon riders