Race 12 - Day 9
Crew Diary - NEW YORK, USA TO DERRY-LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND
30 June

Up on deck for 0600 it was cloudy and damp. Felt like we were back in England! We had the medium weight spinnaker up and the wind had picked up too. I only stayed on deck for an hour then went down below to help Sophie with sail repair of the lightweight kite. It was really badly ripped and took us all day to patch it ready for sewing the next day. We kept our spirits up, and getting it all back together again in one day felt like a huge achievement.

Bob announced that he had heard that the race was to be extended. This didn't go down too well with the crew. We had been looking forward to getting in early and planning what we were doing to do in Derry. Crew morale is low with some of them even talking about retiring from the race, the challenge not just being the 500 mile extension, but the manner in way the message was delivered on board, and the undoing of the promise not to extend the race again. (Leg 5 was extended for 10 days) we are very low on gas, with it being rationed purely for cooking main 'pot only' meals, (no oven) which is impacting some more than others. We are hoping it will last to Derry, but at the moment this seems very unlikely. Bob's claim we can all live on peanuts and cold baked beans doesn't seem to be getting the enthusiasm he perhaps thought it might.

The sea condition wasn't good and after a lot of flogging it was decided it was time to take down the mediumweight rather than risk a second kite. (Applause from the sail making team.)

As an additional note - today's sewing is going very well. Sophie and I are practising harmonising our Xmas carols and more than one member of the crew has checked our bottles only contain tang - which we promise they do. We really are just this happy to spend time together.

Helen Hancorn

Legs 5 & 8