Race 2 - Day 2
Skipper Report
17 September
Decisions, decisions...
The GRIBs we have (our graphic weather data) suggest that being inshore will give us more breeze. However, gybing south east to get into that breeze costs us valuable time spent sailing in the wrong direction. It's a quandary, although according to our GRIBs, we should get a better wind angle out here in due course.
At this point, a beady eye on our state of the art, modern barometer (purchased just for situations like this) would give us a clear understanding of what is actually happening on the ground (or at sea level) - except it's stopped working and Amazon seem unwilling to come and pick it up. I can't imagine why... This has meant we are back to using our trusty analogue barometer, tapped or untapped, dependent on individual crew proclivities.
We seem to be at the stage where several of our junior helms are discovering how apparent wind (and therefore boat speed) are affected by heading. This has meant we now (sometimes) have a propensity to drive fast (well, faster - it's all relative when in 4 kts of breeze) in the wrong direction. This is fun, but unproductive. Like 'Captain Josh' on Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, WTC Logistics seem to have inherited a talking backstay - with 'one voice', usually saying "come down a bit."
On the other hand, our gybing in light airs has improved dramatically - which fills me with a sense of optimistic delight and reduces my stress levels considerably.
Our newly mixed watches seem to be gelling and becoming more efficient. Everyone is in good spirits. Even from the second we left the dock Brad, calling our now customary "Right Here Right Now" team chant set the mood as we slipped lines again for another round of aquatic combat.
In other news, our furry mascot Nathan, the nautical turtle, has had a cold for the last few days and has been prescribed cough syrup and light duties. His furry mascot banter and quick wit is missed on deck but some respite from the constant aroma of woodbine cigarette smoke and his constant foul language and smutty jokes is welcome. You know how turtles can be; especially nautical ones.
And finally, I see that Chris on board Qingdao used his blog yesterday in what was, frankly, a shameless effort to raise money for his boat's Unicef fund, the Clipper Race Charity Partner. It would, therefore, be remiss of me not to do the same and ask that all of you reading this blog find the WTC Logistics JustGiving page (or search for my name) and bung us a few quid for Unicef, a deserving charity.
If the Clipper Race Media Team are on the ball here (which they always are of course, ahem!) they will have put a link here for the WTC Logistics Unicef JustGiving page.
All the best,
WTC Logistics.