The great thing about the shorter races is that some of the fleet are usually in sight for some, if not, most of the race. This can lead to very exciting racing and keeps most of the crew focused.
The temperature is now dropping as we head north up the eastern seaboard of the USA and we have maintained 2nd position as we push on. The wind is coming from a southerly direction as we hoist spinnakers to maximise our sail area in the lightish winds, we can see Hull & Humber in front and Cape Breton Island, Singapore, California and Australia are behind us although they are only 2 or 3 miles to our stern.
Had the "excitement" of mother watch today, this involves providing food & drinks for the crew of 18. Woken at 05.30 to make breakfast (porridge) and then start to look at what ingredients we have for lunch and dinner.
Lunch - Pasta and tomato sauce
Dinner - Corned Beef Hash
Fresh bread is cooked each day and we (Mark who is mothering with me) excell by baking a cake, all whilst the boat is powered up and often heeled over.
Since Mark and I are both recognised bowmen we are called up on deck to assist in the dropping of the spinnaker and hoisting of the "white sails" (head sails) and then the reverse, this is fairly normal pratice as we try to max out as much speed as we can.
Great excitement today in the dappled morning sun as pilot whales were spotted off the starboard bow, about 5 or 6 were feeding off the vast quantities of squid that proliferate these waters at this time of year, it is a real privilege to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat.
We should be in on Thursday afternoon with a bit of luck, although the winds are getting a little flukey which does not bode well for us and our previous management of the same - only time will tell!!
We have done it again...., I went off watch at 22.00hrs with TF in 2nd place and was woken at 02.00hrs with us back in 4th!! We gybed the boat straight into another wind hole and lost 7 miles on Australia in 4 hrs, this is becoming SO frustrating to the point where we are starting to question some of the tactics.
We have Cape Breton 50 metres off the starboard qtr as we are both racing neck & neck through the waves at approx 10 knots, constant calls for sail trim are heard and responded to, then they drop their medium weight spinnaker as the wind picks up, we know that they have trashed their heavy weight spinnaker in a previous race so we pull ahead of them, all very exciting stuff.....
More wind holes off the coast of Cape Breton Island have now seen us drop down the fleet to a very very disappointing 6th position, all we want to do now is get in and get off the boat, have a beer and get some sleep - Oh the joys of ocean racing.
Anna & Debbie are on the pontoon as we arrive at about midnight, we clear customs and immigration and head off to the nearest bar to seek some solace.
Hull & Humber win, with Australia 2nd, Cape Breton 3rd, Singapore 4th, California 5th and TF 6th.
Having a great rest in Cape Breton where you can get fresh lobster for $5 in the supermarket and the scenery is spectacular.
Pleased to hear that Peter Johnston is making great progress after "dying" on the 17th at AGC, I knew we let all those medics in for some reason! Pete the original SAG is alive and kicking and I'm sure we will share a beer when I get back.
For now, all well, as we again prepare for another Ocean crossing - the Atlantic and await the craic in Ireland, I wonder if David O'Leary will be there to welcome us in !!!!!!
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