Race 6 - Day 22
Skipper Report
13 February

Hello Team

It’s day 25 Thursday, how are you doing, having a prep evening for the weekend today? If our progress continues, we just might be able to join in with the weekend celebrations, but we are certainly not taken that as a given, with 159nm, we have been here before. Not the Philippines, but getting close and seeing the arrival window slip further to the right.

Since we last spoke, we have been playing cat and mouse with Dare to Lead who are still in sight on our starboard side, it’s been a welcome bit of company. The last Clipper boat we saw was Dare to Lead at the top of the Doldrums Corridor on the 29th January - this year? Was it this year? Just it feels like last year! The good news another boat increases focus amongst the crew, although with the miles slowly ticking downwards and before long into double figures, concentration levels are high. The call of a shower and an ice cold drink picks up the pace onboard. People are now thinking of how many watches they have left before crossing the line in Subic Bay.

It will be difficult to actually say with a degree of certainty when we will be in, as the weather in terms of wind direction and strength, has not really been in line with the forecast, which is no doubt being caused by the huge wind shadow caused in the lee of Luzon. Although a lot of our crew are hoping to make calls home on the 14th February.

After 4,275nm miles logged on this race, people are a little tired as you can imagine, a good example of this is Kikki’s latest comment. Standing next to the port helm, she inquires, “Has this been fixed now?” Then shortly adding: “I hope so, I spent the watch helming from it.” Razor sharp, Kikki, razor sharp.

Well I think that's about it from this end, the difference in the previous 24 hours could have been more different. Flat seas, light winds, a flat boat. The crew have been busy switching sails, the Yankee 1 was replaced by the wind-seeker, which in turn was replaced by the Code 1, which is the sail plan we are currently with. The pace is summed up with a log entry, from Alex, who wrote at 15.00UTC (yesterday), “Slowest gybe in history, very light winds.” Another entry earlier in the day stated, “About to gybe, saw a shark fin.” Oh and Number 1 has decided spring has arrived. I awoke to a spotless Nav Station, the big problem will be now, trying to find everything!

Ok, catch up tomorrow, have a great day.

Remember, whatever you do, always give your 100%. Unless you are donating blood.

That's all for now,

Dave & Number 1