Scarlet Oyster - Captain Scarlet Blog 1

Hi All,

Apologies for this being our first missive, various factors for this, including losing, well misplacing in any event the bit of paper with the address we needed to write this too!

We are now over 4 days into our Atlantic Odyssey of 2018 and life onboard is settling into a bit of a routine, with our rolling watch whereby we change a crew member per hour keeping a degree of continuity as the days and nights roll by.

We had a great start, setting our kite as the gun fired, just behind the line and in front of our adversaries! Fantastic way to begin.

We were delighted to have more wind than forecast and actually escape the clutches of the forecast high pressure, which promised to slow proceedings.

A gybing battle along the coast of Gran Canaria ensued with the shore side continually paying as the wind bent around the island, the trick was not to get too greedy and end up in the wind shadow. This year it seemed that only a southern route would work so no need to head west early, staying in breeze was key.

We were rewarded with an early lead, which as yet we have held all the time on the IRC handicap. In class Tigress soon Jua Kali have proved very quick at times and shadowed us wishing a couple of miles for nearly 2 days, perhaps at times benefiting from our mast head light as a point of reference on the cloudy nights.

We have since shaken them off a bit, but we see today them matching us for speed again, so clearly have the bit between their teeth!

Overall racing the Kid looks strong showing huge straight line speed, our only hope of beating them overall is the the gybe angles they are obliged to sail will cost them too many extra miles. time will tell

All is well on board and I promise more exciting blogs to follow!

Must check the 2000 positions!

Ross