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Scarlet Oyster - Milestone day Day 9 on Scarlet



Yesterday was something of a day of milestones, 1000nm taken off the total distance, 1 full week at sea, wind finally switching to a more appropriate angle, last tack of the race (hopefully!), oh and breaking a steering cable for the first time!

Sunday started quite uncomfortably as we continued to bash upwind in a NW direction, trying to gain position for the next few days of downwind sailing in good breeze. Through the night we had squalls with up tom 38knots in them, Scarlet confidently strode on upwind under no.4 jib and 1 reefed main, both these sails are from the 1st suit of racing sails the boat had back in 1988, I am amazed they are not only still in one piece but actually quite fast still! The guys onboard were pleased to have Scarlet as our steed as she took all the punishment in her stride making a respectable 7knots plus into the waves and wind.

The tactical decision of the day was the timing of the tack on to stb, to early and we would sail S back out of the wind, too late and we waste distance losing ground to those behind, in the end it was an approaching squall that was the catalyst, as I anticipated a right shift with it, amazingly it fell into place!


As the wind continued to veer we were finally pointing at st Lucia, with enough Northing to ensure we were in good wind, finally we were able to ease sheets and pick up a bit more pace, the reef was shaken from the main as the wind eased to a more comfortable 18knots.

I was just at the chart table, looking at the 1200 positions when a report from above came that the steering had gone! Not good! As I went through the cockpit I could see that the wheel was spinning freely as we were rounding smartly into a tack (shades of the ARC 2002 on Liara!). We left the jib backed and eased the main, Scarlet very graciously settled hove too, giving us a safe platform to work with. The emergency tiller is very accessible in the lazerette we had it on the head of the rudder post inside 1min of the steering failing. Simon had gone to look in the engine room as soon as he realised there was an issue and reported that one cable had parted. So as to lose minimum time we tacked back onto course and set about getting the wheel back up and running, luckily the tiller is a good length and Pierre was able to steer easily enough by hand, we were straight back to over 7knots, with the main well eased to make life a little easier on the helm!

Fortunately we carry spare cables onboard, the laz was promptly emptied so we could get to the quadrant, I was busy in there when Pierre mentioned a squall was coming, I called for the 2nd reef, before the breeze hit the guys had got the main on the 2nd reef, and Pierre was able to hang on to the tiller in the 28knot wind speed that ensued. More fortunately was that I was able to push the new cable through the outer sheave through the boat to the engine room (centre cockpit) without it getting stuck, the guys on deck had removed the compass and the top of the binnacle so we could send a mouse line to the engine room to pull the cable back up to the chain, luckily we had spare bulldog clips so we could attach the cable as the old one was crimped on. From the laz I could then set the correct length for the cable and retention it on the quadrant. Within 2 hrs we had the wheel back in commission. Restowing the laz took a little while tho!

The 1600 position report revealed we had not only kept up but had put 18miles on our nearest rival! Maybe tiller steering is the way forward after all! 

I am pleased to report the steering is 100% now, the cable looked in good  condition, but had parted inside the outer sheave where it is not ever visible, guess we need to replace them more than every 4 years!

The no.4 was then swapped for our biggest jib we are rated with the no3 and we were back to race pace.

Last night was reasonably uneventful, we hoisted the A7 spin at about 0500UT, as the wind freed enough, and at 1100 we went to the A3, which I am pleased to say is looking good after being repaired from being torn in half 5 days ago!.

We are now on our BIG kite, this was a secondhand purchase of a sail from a Sydney60, amazing what 180 plus sqm does for speed in light winds! Averaging 9knots in15knots wind, our 2000 position should look quite healthy!

I am due on deck to do a spot of driving now, so best get to it, shorts and t shirt sailing at its best


All for now!

Ross




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