Telefónica Blue Leg Two Day 8 QFB: received 22.11.08 0410 GMT
It has been an exciting 24 hours with two of the fleet in view, Green Dragon on one side and Puma on the other. We are approaching a gybe and everyone is playing their own little strategies, some high and fast some going lower and slower so it makes for an interesting time in the nav station constantly monitoring our performance trying to stay on top of the changing conditions.
To be honest, I am thoroughly enjoying being up with the pack and fighting it out, almost for the first time since this race has started do I feel that we are really in the hunt. Each boat seems to have their conditions where they are slightly stronger, so it is all about managing the fleet and not getting suckered into playing someone else’s game. I know that soon we will be reaching again and most likely that will be good for us!
Racing aside (dare I say it!), life is very good. The wind has got lighter so the big dry out has begun, all round the boat you can find bits of clothing hung up as everyone desperately tries to get stuff dried out before we begin reaching once more on starboard. The thermals are now close to coming off too, something I am very much looking forward to, as it will mark the end of being slightly damp for the best part of a week now.
I am slightly regretting not buying any shoes for the warm conditions like 99% of the crew did in Cape Town – a consequence of not being that big a fan of shopping and a firm believer in taking the minimum amount of stuff possible on a leg. For starters, its is less weight and, even better, it is less stuff to leave lying around the boat!
Even the food seems to be getting better. Perhaps it is because I am getting back into the swing of things, but the freeze-dried doesn’t seem nearly as bad. Maybe it is the fact that there is one more curry on the menu or, perhaps, it is because of all the snacks we have this leg. There has been a steady flow of dried fruit and Biltong into my mouth for the whole trip, which has been very good indeed. I dare say it is a good idea to make the most of eating beef while we sail as in India a cow is something to worship and not to eat!
Anyway, better go, sched coming up and maybe a quick trip to the snack box!
Cheers,
Simon Fisher – navigator