Race 2 - Day 7
Skipper Report
22 September

Hello,

Well we're almost there, to the Scoring Gate that is, but the big question is will we be first. Qingdao has gone into sneaky squirrel mode (Stealth Mode) so we can not see them, and Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam is not too far behind so it’s all to play for as we race on through the night.

In other news, the Code 3 is almost finished and I even got involved today, Ollie Fort and I continued machine stitching the patches while some of the other sail repair team got some well earned rest.

Today came with almost more heartbreak as the wind died off almost entirely for 2 or 3 hours. I could see the lead we’ve built up over the past week being completely eroded by one afternoon of poor wind. But we persevered in a less than useful sea state and eventually the wind came back powering us on towards the scoring gate. I was nervous for quite a while about having to explain to the crew that ocean sailing has a healthy sprinkling of luck and if you don’t have any wind there is absolutely bugger all you can do about it apart from making the best of what you have.

Log of the day: ‘The hamon leg has passed away, N20’15.0017 W 029’26.7847’

Until tomorrow,

Seumas