Wow, what a first day. The start was quite a spectacle. Light winds but plenty of colour on this downwind start. Reasonable start (if over the line a minimum 3 hour penalty!) and stayed west through the acceleration zone. Paid off as lay 18th overall (out of 220) after first 23 hours. And third in our class. Have a bet on with Jasmine, another Beneteau 57 to fund the beers in St Lucia. We went further but they sailed smarter and have 1 mile less to go to the finish!!
Paid a price though. Carried the Parasailor all night and shredded one of the guys, ripped the spinnaker head fitting out of the mast and wore through the Genoa UV protective layer in parts. Oh well, never was one for patience and the long game! Went up the mast to try to fix the spinnaker head but bottled out after the 3/4 point - 3 meter swell and 23 knot wind was a little lively. Ellen Macarthur has balls of steel and that's official! Will try again tomorrow.
Rob going strong, Phil's big fishing day tomorrow (no pressure), Steve trying to fix the damage from our first day, Andy, gone to bed with FHM, Marty still the life and soul as usual.
We expect to suffer tomorrow with no downwind sail but we'll be back. Bedtime now - although sleep with goose wing rig at 9 knots and 3 metre sea not easy.
(This entry by Skip)
Stuart and crew,
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the race give my best wishes to all especially rob who looked very dapper on the tv last night !
john k
Best wishes to Jasmina and bunch of drunk layabout you call crew. Could you please attach dictionary. Don't understand who is the GUY with the SPINAKER going to Geneva, or is it GENOVA with a dose of FHM.
ReplyDeleteHaving decoded the progress report, DTF which I assumed was some kind of boosy index like "drinks left to finish" or "drink too fast monitor" is I believe indicating that you are in 13th position 7 ahead of Jasmine. Well done boys! don't let the blood alcohol drop to a potentially fatal low level.
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