Skills Learnt: Downwind Sailing with a Following Sea

The FCS crew on Challenger 2 were racing to St Lucia in the ARC Rally. Things were going well until a problem with the rigging meant a couple of repairs were needed in Cape Verde before carrying on.

Before we hear from the crew of Challenger 2 we thought you might like to see where they are compared to Challenger 1 who is still in the ARC Rally.

Challenger 2 this morning is making good progress in roughly the right direction. After a midday Gybe yesterday we have made our way 40 miles south of the rhumb line in the hope of holding onto good breeze.

We have now just gybed back onto a westerly heading. Helming has greatly improved overnight with the vast majority now understanding what is involved in downwind sailing with a following sea.

Meals continue to be good. All watch system confusions seem to be now resolved and most of the crew are rested enough be around during the day. Our water maker caught up with consumption today so now all tanks full and WM switched off.

Hope the real world is having a good Monday morning.

Gary

Ps. Joe’s lesson learnt for the day, remove underwear from the guard wires before we gybe.

Posted by: First Class Sailing