Hello! What a 48 hours it has been, we have been in close competition yet again with Punta del Este and GoToBermuda. In fact the tracks run like tramlines across the computer screen as we matched each other for around 200nm. Gaining and losing no more than five miles on each other over the period of a day and a half. We regularly chatted on VHF about how ridiculous it is to be match racing mid ocean, but I'm sure it’s making great viewing back home on the Race Viewer!
We got to around 80nm from Mandatory Finish Gate 4 and we split apart, each with a different tactic. Wavy opted to go inshore, more miles but a better wind angle to the line, Jeronimo went for tacking early to make ground to the south following the wind backing, and I opted to take the most direct line, tacking on every wind shift! The result came to GoToBermuda and ourselves, side by side 20nm from Gate 4.
Just when we thought they had the advantage on us, a huge rain/squall cloud blew over removing all wind, completely. We have currently been sitting, drifting, seven miles apart for seven hours now, watching the light on the mast of their boat on the horizon, both turning every angle on the compass looking for a puff of wind. Now this is frustrating, but we find it’s better to have a good laugh about it and sit on deck recounting stories from the first half of the race as we wait for the elusive wind to return.
Large amounts of thick clouds have kept the boat cooler than usual, which is a relief after so many days of baking sun, which makes sleeping in the day a sweaty experience. I do enjoy watching the faces of the Race Office when we arrive in ports as they smell us and try not to react, fortunately we have gone nose blind by this point and aren't too fussy either!
Hopefully the wind fills in soon and we can make Clipper Race history and sail all the way to the finish!
Dan, Ineke and the crew of WTC Logistics 'OUT'