Race 1 - Day 29
Crew Diary - Race 1 Day 29: Liverpool to Punta del Este
18 September

Iain Coke
Iain Coke
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The Calm After The Storm by Iain Coke

So, there is life after spinnakers!

After a pretty traumatic and dramatic 24 hours, it was quite good to be back sailing safely again under our regular white sails. We have made some reasonable progress but also expect to be overtaken between here and Punta del Este as we could be going much faster with a spinnaker (assuming we didn't break it too!).

We had some pretty frank discussions about things afterwards to think about anything we can and should do differently (apart from hope for changing winds so the other boats can't fly their spinnakers either). After so many days hoping for an end to 45 degree life for the relative calm of downwind sailing, we are now maybe the only boat wanting the opposite. Despite all the problems over the weekend, the crew are still united and motivated, determined to make the most we can of our situation. We are all pretty tired and have been a bit downbeat but are regaining our senses of humour.

One highlight of the night watch was that we crossed with Unicef, who came so close that they had to alter course to steer behind us (we were on starboard tack, them port). It was great being able to shout hello to each other. We were a bit jealous of the spinnaker they were flying though. Absolutely incredible that, after about 6,000 miles at sea, we were both at exactly the same point in the ocean.

The race continues...

PS - For followers of our spinnaker names, we decided to call our Code 3 Murphy - after the law. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.