Kelpie - Saturday 8 December 2018

13:46.1N 58:53.1W

A challenging 24 hours. Initially very little wind and much banging and
crashing of the sails and mast gear then at nightfall the wind filled in
nicely. Good progress overnight and then around dawn several squalls came
up on us, mostly passing to our left or right but one hit us square on just
after breakfast. Not to worry, we had learnt our lesson on Thursday and we
were well reefed down by the time it hit.

Then becalmed again. Our 24 hour run was 121 miles; not so terrible after
all. The leader board looks interesting; two of the cats and the big
Discovery 55 we are contending 2nd place with have now arrived at St Vincent
so its all about the next 24 hours and our corrected time overall. Andrew
has worked out we need to achieve a VMG of 7.5 knots until we finish - that
will be a stretch - However, the wind has come round to south of east which
puts us on a really fast beam reach - hope is not entirely extinct!

It seems strange to think we are now in our last 24 hours of this rally -
our very comfortable little routine is about to be shattered by the euphoria
of arrival, seeing Jane and Leigh and opening the bottle of champagne Sarah
has hidden in the bilges! Can't wait!

D