CoCo / ARC – Day 3

27/11/14 12:00 UTC

DIST SAILED: 541 nm

DIST TOGO: 2160 nm

PRESENT SET: SPINN

We’ve had a good 24 hr run. Later today we will receive position reports to see if the same applies for the rest of the fleet.

Yesterday afternoon we sailed on a steady course towards St Lucia, mostly using our genakker. The wind was gusting to about 23 knots, and in a snap the sail came down as a result of a broken fastening strip between the sail and the halyard. Fairly exciting, with 200 sq. of clothing in the water, but very quick and professional action from everyone made for a safe recovery of the (very wet) sail. After some repair we put it back up, and continued our fresh ride. Unfortunately, only to the point of a minor broach, which overloaded the sail. This time it came down in pieces. Our genakker is now beyond self-repair, but it should be possible to get it operational with the help of a sail maker on the other side. Lesson learned – we are now very careful with our spinnaker…

Through the evening and night we were however lucky with wind and angles, and for most of the time we have been able to keep good speeds with our genoa. We had some rain overnight, just short periods, and temperatures below our expectations.

Our new watch system works well, everyone is getting more sleep, AND the boat is run better! This morning people were taking showers and cleaning cabins, a good sign of batteries in shape.

At daybreak today we went back into race mode and got the spinnaker up, but not before Brian had served everyone generous helpings of egg, toast and bacon. We have enjoyed a very sunny and pleasant morning, although the winds are yet again dropping a bit for us.

The great Atlantic (Azores) high pressure is very stable, and we will, within the next 24 hrs, be firmly in the easterly winds on its south side. From then on it will be less tricky as far as strategy and routing goes.

Otherwise all well with everyone onboard.