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Nexus - NEXUS First full day on World ARC 2014



What a brilliant 24 hours since the start of WorldARC 2014. The WARC team did a fabulous job organizing social and preparatory events as well as looking after us in general. We've had the opportunity to meet quite a few new friends through the social events, which I'm sure will be lifelong friends soon. What an wonderfully diverse group of sailors, both professionally and culturally. Its amazing how the common denominator of sailing seems to create compatibility across many countries and languages.


The official start was a beautiful spectacle, great weather and 32 boats sailing in formation. The sendoff from the staff and people of St Lucia was special. Our first 18 hours of downwind sailing was by head sail alone, to slow to boat down for fishing. We caught a beautiful yellowfin tuna this morning, which has already been partially served as Tuna Tartare for breakfast! The radio net was great to communicate with the other boats, and we all enjoyed the banter later on the VHF. It is a special experience to be cruising among other boats, not too close, but close enough to feel their companionship.


We decided to do some catching up, so we launched our 80% asymmetric midmorning. After a classic hourglass wrap, we tried it again tying knitting yarn around the spinnaker to keep ti together so we could hoist it up onto its top down furler for the first time. The second attempt was a success with the spinnaker going up bunched with the yarn, which then burst and fell away as we pulled the sheet. We are now cruising along with a beautiful following sea of 6-9ft with 20kts true wind on the stern averaging 9-10kts with the occasional 15kt surf.
It just doesn't get any better than this!

Russ
S/v NEXUS at 13 57'N, 063 57'W - 12:27 01/12/2014

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