Ahoy!
Well we are back in the wet and speedy conditions! We are still very close with Greenings and Dare To Lead, unfortunately we lost a bit on them but the race isn't over yet!
Onboard we do have a kind of a bug - a few crew members which are our Watch Leaders and/or drivers are sick and off watch - so we split the boat into two sections, same for the heads to prevent the bug contaminating the rest of the gang. I am trying to be in between watches to help driving and it was nice to break a few speed records above 25 knots. When surfing down you have to imagine the boat in the pitch-black night submerged by the spray and the waves. You can't see anything, just your compass and the speedo getting crazy! Helming in those conditions is tough, you need strong arms and a lot of concentration. I really take my hat off to my pirates; they are doing a great job, always smiling, not complaining and actually enjoying the conditions. Even for professionals it is not easy so, for crew who never saw that before, I guess it must be an incredible achievement to do and to cope with the elements.
We had our first crash gybe in the night, I was luckily in the companion way having a break when the boat gybed under control. I went towards the Helm, gave some orders to ease the preventers very slowly, getting the runner forward, taking the slack of the Main sheet, easing the Staysail, then I could finally get the boat back on course. It doesn't seem that we broke anything but when daylight will come, a massive check will be on the menu.
Nobody got injured, which was the biggest relief for me.
Today we should start to see some more wind with some nasty gusts near storm conditions as a big front will pass on top of us. Sails are quite reduced for 24 hours. We could push more but again in my mind and my inside little voice remind me all the time that there are many legs and we have to keep the right balance between pushing too hard and not pushing enough to keep us in the lead.
I think Cape Town will be a good, well-deserved rest stop!
GT out