Race 6 - Day 18
Skipper Report
09 February

Hello,

Last night was a night of changes in both weather and sails. Just as I took over from Jorge (our First Mate) his handover was something along the lines of lovely weather, still got the Code 2 up, no squalls, enjoy your evening.

At least I can say I enjoyed my evening that’s for sure. As I got up on deck, Ollie instantly pointed out a huge dark cloud heading our direction, inevitably no matter how much you think a squall might miss you, it’s like they have some form of heat seeking on them, you know they’re coming for you. So, in preparation, we got the support watch on deck and assigned positions for the drop, closer and closer the cloud got and just as it got to us and we could feel a few droplets of rain it dissipated. A bit of an anti-climax really, but sure enough there was another just behind it and we made the call to drop the Kite, and not a moment too soon it came through with 25 knots which would probably have damaged our kite but we got it down, with some superb bear hugging from Tom, Rick and Will.

It was then up with the Staysail and down with an anti wrap net and we came up on the breeze. When a front is forecasted to pass over, always shows as a gradual change over a period of a few hours, very seldom does it ever happen like that. We had a 6 hours change that happened in 6 minutes. Next up was to change out our Yankee 1 for our Yankee 2 which for the joiners of this leg was their first Headsail change and it was at night in quite a tippy foredeck, there were a few white looking faces but up they intrepid adventurers went and back they came with the 1 and then away they went with the 2. New joiners Dickie, Ed and John did a cracking job up the with old timers Ollie and Afshin.

Until tomorrow,

Seumas