Race 2 - Day 3
Skipper Report
18 September

Hello again,

So, it finally it feels that the position reporting has got it right and were in second which is great! It’s been tough explaining to the crew why were in the bottom half of the reports even though Jorge and I are really happy with how we have been progressing, so now we can show it has all worked out.

It’s been a lovely day at sea today, although it started a little slow with the Code 1 Spinnaker up and we lost some ground to Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam and Dare To Lead. The wind slowly but surely filled in and we changed to the Code 2 Spinnaker to take us through the evening and into the night. Will, our resident Canadian, was sent up the rig to attach a second halyard to provide us some security as this sail is going to be up for some time.

Only a few hours ago, disaster was averted. The decision to gybe had been made as we approached the Moroccan coast and lined up our line to the Canaries. We set up for the gybe and talked through everyone's roles and I expected it to go like clockwork just the same as every other gybe we’ve done as a team. However, this time the new active sheet had been loaded on the winch the wrong way round and we couldn’t pull in the sheet which resulted in a fantastic wine glass wrap of our Code 2… not again I thought. Halyards we’re eased and sheets ground but nothing seemed to work so we prepared for the drop. Just as we were about to blow the tack, pop, she sorted herself out and we powered on towards the Canaries. I think that's enough excitement for one day.

Today’s log extract: ‘Topless lunch was a hit’

Until tomorrow,

Seumas