Well, it’s been a very busy 24 hours here on Sanya Serenity Coast. Yesterday like the rest of the fleet we had to make a backup forestay fitting- this went like clockwork. The mending mafia were all over it, led by Glenn ’I can fix anything just let me at it’ Manchett, Keitha Cox, Tom ‘the driest man in the world as in humour not dodging waves’ Stanley, and they allowed Clive Allard into their secret men’s club too. The job involved lots of sweating, grunting and general scratching of heads. Glenn also had to don his swimmers as he was going over the bow to the bobstay so a bit of getting dunked was involved. We had to drop our Yankee 3 so speed was a bit slower for a while but not too long as they smashed through it. So, all good, safety on, and we are cracking along again.
Yesterday was also the day of “should we or shouldn’t we?” It was just border line of getting a kite up - we decided against it as the sea state is a bit chippy choppy all over the place. During the night we had to drop our Yankee 3 again - we now have a new rule that we can’t carry it over 24 knots apparent breeze due to the forestay. A great job was done in getting it down quickly, it’s back up again as the wind had dropped below 30 knots.
This morning has also been a bit busy - we decided to go for a hoist of the Code 3 (heavyweight spinnaker) - again it was borderline, but we thought let’s give it a go. It all went well, until about 1 hour later the breeze built up again and what with chippy choppy sea was time to get it down. It came down as it should - all very well done. Now it’s getting packed as it looks like we will be able to hold it now as the breeze has changed direction and eased.
So, it will be time to drive it like we stole it very soon.
We are starting to get emails about what’s happening in Freo, so now it seems like it isn’t too far away, so getting excited. Not quite countdown time yet, but soon. Can almost taste that wonderful WA wine.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention we are sprinting now, we started the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint last night, so have our spikes on and we are off.
Better go - I can hear a kite going in a bag, that means it’s time to get it out of the bag again.
How’s the serenity? All good here.
Love youse all.
Wen