Race 13 - Day 2
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland to Den Helder, Netherlands
19 July

Kieran Lynch
Kieran Lynch
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To all the Derry~Londonderry~Doire fan’s.

I would like thank the thousands of you who turned out to see use both on Saturday night at the festival of lights parade and of course the leaving party. All the crew on board felt a great sense of pride to be representing the city.

We were all made to feel like superstars on our stopover. The highlight of my week was being paraded around the walls and getting to stand in front of you all to collect our 2nd place prize. The bands and entertainment were second to none and the atmosphere generated by the crowd was amazing (I think half of them were my family). Ruth seems to think I know half of Derry and the other half know me.

Back to the sailing. The start line at Greencastle was like organized chaos. It was my first line start - the rest have been Le Mans starts. It was nice to be able to do it on home turf.

To be first around the two top markers, hoist the spinnaker and come flying back past the crowds was great. I hope there was some good footage taken from ashore because for me it seemed to be over in seconds. Everyone on board was so busy.

It is now exactly 24hrs from race start and we are in a battle with LMAX Exchange once again. They are 350m east of us as we are both passing less than a mile of the Butt of Lewis (at the north end of the Hebrides). It has been a battle from the start - hopefully one that we can win. So it is time to go back on deck for the last couple of hours of my watch then dinner and bed. Until next time good night.

Kieran Lynch