<\/p>\n
Just as i write a big rain cloud on the horizon has brought a sudden
\nwindshift, this is the first we encounter since leaving the unstable airs
\naround the equator and unfortunately it probably signals the end of the
\nstable band of the trade winds… We have 1350 miles to the finish which
\nwill bring more variety and hard work.<\/p>\n
Ahead of us a patch of really light airs which wont fill for another two
\ndays and which has already caused us to slow down and forced Cessna onto
\nthe opposite gybe. This is of course all to Phesheya’s advantage, the
\nlonger we’ll suffer in this air bubble the more miles they will catch up,
\nthey have at least half a day longer to enjoy the stronger stable trade
\nwinds but they will eventually get to ligher airs and should pay a high
\nprice for the loss of their A2 big spinnaker.<\/p>\n
My laptop charts still carry the log of all the races i did so far, i’m
\nusing the same laptop since the 2009 OSTAR in fact and right now i can see
\ni’m crossing the track i followed on my way to Guadaloupe during the Route
\ndu Rhum 2010. I didnt do very well, just 27th out of 45 boats, i had
\nchosen the northern route but made a mistake around the Azores high which
\nsaw me dropping from 10th to mid fleet in a day when i got stuck in light
\nairs. Interestingly Conrad Colman was racing that race too, and we shared
\nthe same strategy and the same mistake… we arrived in Guadaloupe
\ntogether, i could see him just behind me and i believe he crossed
\nthe finish line just 6 minutes after me. He didnt take it very well,
\nthat’s why he was quite annoyed when I beat him again in leg 1 (by only 3
\nhours after 41 days of racing)… after that he has made no further
\nmistakes and scored a perfect first in both leg 2 and 3 and is set to win
\nagain in this leg, so, hopefuly he has forgiven me for the earlier
\ninconveniece i had caused.<\/p>\n
I keep looking at the complex weather forecast ahead and i know i wont
\nfind peace until we’re in Charleston, getting stuck in a wind hole is my
\nbiggest worry since that poor performance in the Route du Rhum, we already
\ndropped 25 miles of our lead to Phesheya in just a day and our
\n160 miles advantage does not seem that great any more… we’re all here to
\nplay till the end and i’m sure they’ll push hard seeing us slowing down…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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