Delta Lloyd Leg One Day 4 QFB: Received 14.10.08 1210 GMT
We are strategically positioning ourselves on the left of the fleet where we feel we may get to the high wind pressure before the fleet. We decided to gybe about 2 hrs before the fleet and head SSE to the beach in the hope of picking up some extra sea breeze, headed and gybing into 20 knots of target wind speed.
Currently 6th. Place in fleet with 40nm separating us from 5th & 46nm to first place, with approx 5,500nm to go its all up for grabs. Position 50nm north 32 degrees off the coast of Marrakech, West Africa, 15 knots boat speed in 15 knots top of mast wind.
The fleet seems to be sailing in a bunch have also decided to head the same direction & gybed after us as per the last sked.
Anyway the lads are happy as they reckon they may see some babes on the beach. Sailing to the target direction as fast as we can, watch changes are working well.
Life aboard is good as we all can not wait to get Delta Lloyd up to max speed in the 20 – 30 knots blast reaching we had as we departed Alicante. Freeze dried food is becoming comfortable with a la cart menu of chicken & more chicken, looking forward to the beef I hope is packed in Day 6 Food Bag. Water Making, charging, nav., weather routing, engine charging, running rigging, sail, cooking, bilging, media, all part of daily life aboard the good ship Delta Lloyd.
Media Crew Sander Pluijm on restricted sailing duties took water samples yesterday and we videoed him. I just hope we have not infringed any NOR media rule by helping him! He’s getting on well with crew with the usual banter. I have discovered the Dutch are a mad as the Irish!
Over & Out
Delta Lloyd
Ger O’Rourke – skipper