Good Morning,
The Unicef spirit animal this race is a beaver. Patient and determined. Day and night, nibble by nibble we are working away. We are playing somewhat of a long game this race. Doing enough to keep in the mix but being careful not to damage any sails. It is a really tricky balance. Hopefully this will pay off but the miles are ticking down quickly.
The last 48 hours have been a drag race. Some teams have been looking to line themselves up for the Ocean Sprint, others have headed north in search of stronger wind and current. Meanwhile we have chosen a lane with flatter seas and 15-20knt of wind where we are able to hold a large spinnaker. The wind has been a little shifty and patchy but we have been enjoying glorious sailing conditions and have been eating up the miles.
As we mentioned in the last blog, the Clipper Race has taught us to expect the unexpected. It came as no surprise to hear that the course had been amended. We have been waaay too fast and it would be rude to arrive early when our hosts are not expecting us for the party. The Rum (Scottish island) line has taken on a whole new meaning now as we set course for Rockall. The course extension will surely be the most tactical section of this race with a complicated weather forecast, strong tides and near coastal navigation. All to play for!
Here we go.
Ian and Dan