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Wethomi - //WL2K 16. November 2016



Countdown for the final leg! Nervous? No time. Trying to get fixed the SailingGen (water powered generator). Finished 20 minutes before starting time. Restore everything. Clean hands. Motor start. Leave berth. Head direct to starting line. Start.
We look around. We are the first ones. And on time. Unbelievable. Maybe "Masa Yume" is a little bit ahead. But they did again things you are not supposed to do in the start area. But as in real life: If you are beautiful you are allowed the little bit extra.
So at least once in the ralley we are at the front row.
Now get up the "Parasailor" quick. Could not prepare it in advance. But imagine some old fellows getting up a high tech sail on an old lady: Near to disaster.
Manage somehow to have it pulling our "Wethomi" forward. Now we attack from behind. As it is geting dark we are faster than the bigger boats without lightwind sails. But what are they doing? Probably not expecting others to be faster than them; especially not a small old lady. And then even having the right of way. So we have to do a manoever of the last moment to avoid a collision. As the AIS is showing the boat's name (no, I will not tell you) I call them on channel 72. They answer instantly. I explain the situation. Light illuminates the windows. But nothing heard again. No "thank you", "sorry", whatsoever. Probably we freightened them to salt collums. Funny people.
What else happened? Wind fell asleep; so did we. Most skippers lost nerves and started the engines. Of course not so on an old sailing lady. Found a flying fish at the windlass. Entered through the hole for the chain. Probably this flying fish is a new model with super folding wings. Had a wonderful night with near full moon. Sailing is great!
2040 NM to go.


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