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Defyr - Now we have two gennakers



What a beutiful weather we had for the ARC Europe! We had decided to fuel Defyr before the start. So we agreed that I would go to customs to clear out (boats joining the rally in Bermuda had to do the clearance in customs building) and the others would move the boat to Rubis. So there I was, after customs, internet and buying last minute stuff from the market. But Defyr wasn't there at the gas station. I sat there for a while and tried to call everyone. Finally I did reach Jaakko. Our anchor was tangled with some kind of rope, which in turn was tangled with a carwreck! The diver had just arrived and soon they would be ready to go.

Finally we had fuelled and on our way to the start area, fifteen minutes before the start. It wasn't supposed to be this tight of a schedule! We quickly threw fenders in the boat. Anchor we had to place on the bed of the guys sleeping in front cabin. Passing by the committee boat "Everyone smile and look on the port-side, now!!" After the photo-moment we started running again and putting our gennaker ready for sail. Do we have time to get it up or not? TUUUUUUT! That was the start signal and at the same moment we are ready hoist the gennaker.

Everything goes well and we sail nicely over the start line. Euphoria, our biggest competition is the only boat with spinnaker on. It's tangled around the forestay. But that boat is full of racing guys and the problem is quickly solved. And so they reach us quickly and Lenn, the skipper, wonders how is it possible we got this far before they got us. I answer something about using a spinnaker as a bra round the forestay instead of sailing. First in Horta buys the rum, I shout at them as they pass us.

STYLING THE GENNAKER

In the afternoon i'm trying to sleep in the cabin to get ready for the nightwatch. Suddenly I hear some shouts and quickly put on my lifejacket and run outside. Great, our spinnaker is in two peaces, I mean literally. This starts to resemble ARC in last november, when in the first day the same gennaker blew up. Now we had 14 knots of wind, not big waves, so it should not have broken, but it did. Well, the gennaker is now out of the game.

Otherwise everything is good on board. Some good food has been done, jokes told and fishing has started. Oh, and candy eaten!w

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