The wind and waves continue, we rock and roll to them.
There was not much change in the wind, but the weather has cheered up considerably. We are therefore hoping to make our land-fall before dusk, and to join the other World ARC yachts in Resolution Bay in time for the official welcome and so on, which start tomorrow. Meanwhile the 30 to 35 knot wind continues to give us a fast and bumpy ride.
We have had to strip the damaged sail off the foil because it had started to flap in the wind, which would have led quite rapidly to its complete disintegration. This was hard work for the three of us working on the wet foredeck, which was pitching up and down excitingly in the ten-foot swells. But it was just after dawn, the sun was shining, it was already warm, and land was in sight. Soon the sodden sail was safely down below, and a cup of tea and breakfast restored body to the same shape as morale. It was then that Will spotted a sail on our starboard side, and shortly we were chatting to our friends in the super-fast Wizard. Starting nearly a full day after us, they'd had a very exciting trip - they were doing 10 knots as they passed to our six and a half to seven! But Gerrie reported they were tired; Wizard may be an exciting boat to sail, but with her sleek hull and tall rig, she is wet and hard work to sail. They will be in the bay when we arrive, but there are still several boats behind her, so hopefully we won't be the last in. We will find out in an hour or so at the noon radio schedule - the Skipper is duty operator again.
Pork stew - delicious - for supper last night; another success for Will. Elizabeth has got everything else under control, so it's plenty of sleep for the Skipper. Although she is one of the smaller yachts, Cleone rides the swell comfortably, and we'll be good to go when we arrive, even if the other crews are not!
All well with us, and best wishes to everyone..
James, Elizabeth and Will
Yacht Cleone