12 46.822n 39 01.939w
Our dear old kite
Fri Nov 24 2023
Those of you fully up to date with our trials and tribulations will have noticed that my last missive was, amongst other things, eulogising over the spinnaker and how it had become our secret weapon allowing us to save some face from a disastrous start to Leg 2. With a near perfect wind angle, wind strength and enthusiastic crew we recovered from 83rd to 32nd. But you will also have noted the words of caution that accompanied that story.
And so it was an hour or so after I turned in that the bedroom door burst open and the alarm raised that the kite had wrapped itself around the inner forestay. Kite wraps are a nightmare and if not dealt with in the first few seconds rarely recover. The kite having gripped the forestay like some Japanese knotweed continues the wrapping process with every pendulum swing of the mast. Leaping from my bed in just my undercrackers, I don my life jacket to find Neil at the bottom of the mighty bean stalk clinging onto the ever growing vine. Sadly, frantic attempts to wrestle the beast to the ground caused it to be torn and as we both fought together that position deteriorated. Now joined by Emm the three of us continued the brawl and finally after what seemed like an age the beast was slain laying lifeless on the deck.
It was a terribly sad moment for the beast had also been a beauty. With its head held high and shoulders back it had been instrumental in helping us romp through the fleet just days before. It had been the perfect companion to hunt down and harness the exceptional light winds that have plagued the fleet over the first few days of Leg 2. We had nailed the gybe, the hoist, the trim, the recovery. We’d understood when it needed to fly unaccompanied or with its partner the main. But now, sadly, its days were over.
Over the next few hours the kite was laboriously returned to its sleeve, folded and laid to rest in its own bag prior to a post mortem to be held in Antigua when we plan to arrive there in December.
To make matters worse, the light winds continued and the heavy white sails acted like recalcitrant teenagers refusing to cooperate with any help or assistance that was offered to them. They banged and crashed and made life quite uncomfortable through day and night.
The disappointed crew grew further sullen as inevitably our rankings slipped and in no time the last 10 places gained were lost as we struggled to get any speed out of our 27 ton vessel in such light winds and lumpy sea.
But on a lengthy passage such as this change is inevitable and late in the afternoon on 23rd (maybe our 6th day at sea, who knows?) a steady wind from the NE quarter finally made its way across the water to help us on our way. Although light(ish), at latitude 12 degrees N, this looked like the long awaited trades. No doubt they will rise and fall again over the coming days but I hope ‘the twins’ will rise to the challenge and carry us ever Westward.