There is no point in having eleven sails if you don't use them.
And at some stage yesterday we managed to use all of our light-weight sails
- we are hoping not to have to use any of the others at this stage! At the
beginning of the day, we were under full plain sail - Genoa, Main and Mizzen all
drawing lustily. The Guiana Current was with us, and at noon UK time
we posted our stunning total of one short of 180 miles run.
But during the afternoon, the wind began to ease back. Soon the
Mizzen Staysail was out of its bag and flying between the two masts.
Next it was the turn of the new Spinnaker, and with its help we kept up our
average speed. But the wind eased further, leaving us with a twenty knot
swell and only ten knots of wind. The probability of wrapping the precious
new spinnaker around the forestay grew, so the snuffer was slid smoothly
down over the nylon chute, and the whole lot was then dropped neatly back
into its turtle. The Skipper scratched his head and consulted
his henchmen. A puff of white smoke emerged from the chimney
next the spreaders - consensus! Soon the ancient Ghoster was
flying. But flying with a difference. Normally we tack it
down to the spinnaker pole, pushed forward from the lowest point on
its track. This time, using the spinnaker boom down-haul, we
pulled it hard down to the pulpit. What it lost in flexibility - we would
have been unable to fly it as a spinnaker had the wind come aft - it gained in
shape and therefore drive. The wind was well forward of the beam, and the
sail still pulled like a Trojan. "I see we have a Code Zero" cried
Paul. So in a trice, dear old Cleone's twenty-five year old
light-weight sail, described in the original brochure as
"a Ghoster" has become the most modern sail in the racing
man's wardrobe, a Code Zero. You guys up front better watch out; Cleone is
on her way!
Normally we would be crowing about a 24 hour total of 169 miles. But
after yesterday's stunner, we are getting blase. However, we are still
speeding on our way towards Tobago, with less than 600 miles to go. Apart
from the first couple of days, this last leg has been a cracker for
sailing. A fly in the ointment; a cloud inside the silver lining - the
Skipper is cooking again today. Oh dear.
Meanwhile, all is well with us, and very best wishes to you all.
James, Paul and Volker