We are a few days from race start now and I haven't
written until now as we had four days of up-wind sailing in 20 knots and rough seas. Not what you would imagine of the Caribbean Sea! We've all been
very wet, both above and below decks, while living at 45 degrees. On the
foredeck, on day two, I think we all got soaked through to the skin, retrieving
the Yankey 1 from the sea. It was not too bad though, as the water and air
temperature are warm. Combine that with lots of people down with mal de mer,
and it makes life more hard going. It did feel bazaar wearing a swimming
costume and foul weather gear over the top, as we've been sitting on the rail
while on watch (the crew sit on the windward side of the boat with their legs
outboard to get the maximum righting effect). Downstairs has been stuffy to say
the least, as we can't have the hatch open when there's water crashing over the
foredeck. Despite having one night of being ill myself, it's been a welcome
change from the down-wind sailing during the previous race.
Today we now have the other extreme, and it's rather
frustrating. This morning we came off watch at 6am having just overtaken DLL
and therefore in high spirits, to come up at 9am and find us in a wind hole and
not going anywhere. Consequently the fleet had concertinaed and we had about
six boats within sight. M said this is the first time in the whole round the
world that this has happened.
This morning we've had two kites up, the windseeker and
back to the Yankee one, all during the morning watch and we are finally moving
again at about 6 knots.
Those folks who had bunks on the down-wind side have been
able to get their stuff out on deck to dry, which helps comfort immensely, as
mattresses and sleeping bags got wet.
Sorry if this is short and sweet, but it's blistering hot
now and I need to get some rest before the evening shift.
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