Amandla Kulu - SUBJECT: D13_ Zero to Hero

 

Relatively quiet night. 

 

We have been operating at a sub-optimal level. Things been Okay, just not quite with a sense of urgency and whole attention to detail. 

 

Things clicked today. Really coming together. 

 

The objective was to be sailing under Code Zero the nanosecond the sun appeared above the horizon. To achieve this, we set to prepping the process about an hour in advance. Mostly in darkness. 

 

Tom and Peter were sorting the foredeck. Jenny and Louisa running lines aft. The whole process, including clean-up took under and hour. Local sunrise was at 0910 GMT. We were sailing under a fully powered up Code Zero at 0907. 

 

The day has been hot. Fairly favourable breeze from a decent direction. Our friends on Ellinora sailing less than 15 miles away have had very different wind strength and direction. They gybed just before sunset. Also, dropped their kite and popped it in the sock for their first night sail under Asym. 

 

After speaking, they were having baked potato, with their boat BBQ being fired up for rib eye steak. We had tasty pancakes and fresh baked Norwegian dessert bread creation for dinner.

 

On the dusk walk through, Tom spotted a critical error in the Code Zero (user error on hoist). It was a great example how always going back to check and double check pays off. It had been flying all day and the error was only discovered on the dusk deck walkthrough.

 

As I write, there is a 81% waxing moon that is to set at 0518 GMT tomorrow morning. Coasting along at a healthy boat speed in some warm and light airs. 

 

Both the crew of Amandla Kulu and Ellinora wish our friends in the northern fleet a very safe and totally windless night. 

 

All looks very interesting in the weather. Ellinora were a little to the south of us. Hopefully, we’ll pick-up the favourable breeze together and have a super charge toward Rodney Bay together. 

 

Will and Jules are off watch — due to wake at 00 Local time (0100 GMT).

 

Tom and Peter recently crashed and John, Louisa, Terry and Jen are keeping safe watch. Lou is shining as our light airs helming specialist. Bringing a focus and calm to the new helms as they rotate in. 

 

We saw a pod of dolphins fast tracking behind us just before sumset. We took this as a blessing. 

 

Yesterday we also saw a angry looking jellyfish that had its own red sail.

 

If we are able to keep good speed, this time tomorrow, we’ll be sub 699nm to finish. Just need to keep above 5knts SOG. 

 

Fair breeze, god speed and following seas. 

 

Pip

 

Adz