Tuesday 27^th January 2009

CATCHING UP SLOWLY

We had an amazing run last night, with winds whipping up to an occasional frenzied 25-30 knots from the ESE.  Quasar creaked and groaned in the darkness, and yawed with the relentless bullying of an increasingly unsettled sea.  At times we were gliding along at 9.5 knots.  By 0400 hrs, the wind had ensconced itself in to a steady groove of 25 knots and so we had no choice but to lower the spinnaker (it's a lightweight sail) and rig the more robust Twistle rig.  At 0400 hrs the usual suspects were lurking around: Malcolm, Linds, Sam and me.  Sam and Malcolm went on the foredeck to wrestle with the spinnaker; given that I was due on watch at 0600 I didn't need a second invitation to return to my bunk, but as long as you guys can manage up on the foredeck on your own. I sought their reassurance.  They both looked at me, with life jackets and harnesses on, strobe lights attached, flexing their muscles, we're fine you go to bed JB!  I chose to stay in the cockpit with Linds to handle the lines and dear oh dear oh me!  What a fine mess the boys got themselves in to.  "Release the halyard NOW!" We heard a muffled cry from under the spinnaker and down swept the spinnaker in the most ungraceful of manners. We sighted the occasional hand and foot emerging briefly from the pile of colourful nylon.  It wasn't pretty but upon hearing the words, "we're okay," I skulked off to bed. 

By the way readers, my bunk is in the forecabin (the fos'c'le) so you can imagine I didn't get any sleep whilst the boys were bagging the spinnaker and rigging the Twistle rig.  The footsteps above my head were akin to the approach of a dinosaur in Jurassic Park, the tremors could be felt; there were cries of "tighten the uphaul, slacken the downhaul, furl out the Yankees!". oh no, we've forgotten the snatch blocks!" The yankee sheets grinded up against the stanchions at this oversight.  I sensed Quasar wince in distress.

With the Twistle rig up all morning we have been sailing a comfortable 6- 7 knots   However, on the SSB at lunch we chatted to the yachts up front on the radio after we had each disclosed our positions.  We had gained some ground on Tallulah Ruby, Baccalieu and La Boheme (only 5 miles over the last 24 miles) and had gained 20 miles on Kasuje.  So we've thrown the gauntlet.  We are going to try and catch up with them all.  They are about 80 - 100 miles ahead of us and we're all expecting to arrive on Friday sometime.  Sam and I have been on the foredeck untangling the spinnaker (from last night's debacle) in readiness for it to be hoisted at the first sign of the wind easing.  THE RACE IS ON!

Hi, I'm back; Sam and I have just hoisted the spinnaker , it took 2 goes as the spinnaker has developed a twist at the top, which we can't seem to shake out and the snuffer is sitting slightly skewed at the head of the sail.  But we're happy , the boat is sashaying through the waves at 8 - 10 knots. 

All is well on the good ship Quasar.  Focus on the race has been restored.  We agree to keep the spinnaker up tonight.