Race 13 - Day 4
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland to Den Helder, Netherlands
21 July

Leg 8, Race 13 – it’s quite intense out here!

Blogs before on this leg have recounted the time in Londonderry, the race start off Greencastle and the jockeying for position in the mist and rain as we sailed up the Western and Northern Coasts of Scotland. They were all great for various reasons and for me very different in sailing experience to that I'd seen since joining the boat way back in April in Seattle; our “home port”.

In contrast to previous races we have been closer to land and able to enjoy the western coast line of Scotland; well some of it. A lot was initially hidden by mist such as The Hebrides but as the fleet closed in on The Butt of Lewis we gradually emerged to view the Jurassic looking coast and then cross The Minch to view the interestingly sounding Cape Wrath. We have been privileged to pass John O'Groats from the sea and witness the rugged beauty of the Northern coast line.

This is a shorter race than previous ones and certainly the first 36 hours were more intense, gybes and spinnaker changes for the windseeker and the resultant wooling and re-hoist of spinnaker seemed a blur to be followed by heading into wind and “white sails”; yankee and stay sail.

This is a race and we find ourselves working more as a team, as Jan tells in his blog, with everyone focussed on moving up positions since the start line through the mist and fog to presently being in first position as we head across the North Sea. We're now on a parallel with Edinburgh although all we can now see is sea. Other boats are visible on our navigation systems but not at present physically. This does not distract from the constant focus on sail trimming and helming to ensure we stay ahead of the pack – it certainly feels as if we're being hounded.

As someone who joined mid race, like other “leggers” before, we will each have our own reasons for doing part of the race rather than the whole thing like round the worlders but (and I hope I speak for other leggers) I know I am part of this race. Visit Seattle is part of this race and I'm proud to be part of Visit Seattle.

As my last blog I would like to thank all those that have supported me in my personal endeavour; my wife Sarah and my family particularly. Those aboard Visit Seattle that I have learned so much in terms of sailing and living at sea from such that I can play my part in this race I also thank.

We're pointing at Den Helder – and sailing as fast as we can.

Focussed on Visit Seattle.

Vernon