Race 1 - Day 4
Crew Diary - London, UK to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
04 September

Sophie Dummer
Sophie Dummer
Team Qingdao
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A fantastic day of warm fast down wind sailing with a slight swell. First opportunity to identify our natural downwind helms, an exercise of discovery, with a few precarious spinnaker collapses. Good to know who the upwind helms are ;-)

As we welcomed LMAX Exchange back to Europe, the evening gave us time to reflect on the much discussed importance of trimming. We are sure every boat has it's own approach.

As the sun set, the watch fell into a rhythm as the first Atlantic waves started to roll through. Our waver Vicky finally began to fulfil Andy the grinder's calls for big ones. Some fast and furious action, followed by surfing the glorious white froth was a thrill for everyone on the watch.

Trimmers Sophie and Adam worked hard to keep things neither too tight or too floppy whilst Watch leader Matt kept a steady eye on the team getting over excited too early. a perfect watch of riding big ones and white froth followed. Tired, knackered and beaming. It was a fantastic day for the whole boat, some great speeds were achieved with another happy ending. As Kevin reflected he rewarded trimmer Sophie with a post watch cigarette, "we love this long time."

Dragon Watch