Race 2 - Day 9
Skipper Report
13 October

Well it's Friday the 13th and they say things happen in threes. I'm not at all the superstitious type but when your wind Instruments die at the exact same time the wind is shifting and changeable and then the centre scrolling button breaks on your mouse, I’m considering walking around ladders now instead of under them.

The wind has shifted from a fantastic Northerly we were experiencing to a westerly, which has left us going slightly further North than we had hoped for. At the time of our wind Instruments going down I had a chat with Conall on HotelPlanner.com who was in AIS range and mighty helpful as all of our fellow Clipper Race Skippers are. He took the time to have a bit of a trouble shoot with me. I'm pretty sure the problem is up the rig and not at the bottom and with the sea state as rolly as it is, I am extremely reluctant to put anyone up there! So, we will have to wait until day break to assess the situation. So, until then it is down to the old school technique of using the compass, the wind vein and ears to assess direction and force.

The last few days have been a good example of why crew choose this leg. We got a full taste of the South Atlantic with winds gusting up to nearly 60 knots and steadying out around 45 knots, low grey cloud cover and large rolling waves with the tops blown off them. Surprisingly, the entire crew is never without a smile. I recall the night before last when we were putting our final reef in (making the mainsail as small as it possibly can be) and lowering our staysail shouting forwards ‘this is what you signed up for guys and girls!’.

Watching the efforts put in on deck is absolutely incredible. Even tonight with the slightest hint of going up the rig, the crew had formed a queue similar to that of the January sales! Simon Speirs, Ray Gibson and Tessa Hicks would have shared a harness, helmet and line given half the chance to get up there! I politely declined their very generous offer reminding them what had happened to our very own John Charles in the previous race and why he is taking part in Leg 2 in this race. Don't worry Tracey, he won't be going up there either.

My highlight over the last few days has to be the surprise soakings crew have received whilst on deck. One of my favourites being Phillip Blakey taking a wave as he laid in the cockpit. A big enough wave will fill the cockpit (which is about 3 feet deep and the size of a parking space) for a good ten seconds before it drains away behind the open area at the back of the boat. Let’s just say Phillip could have done with a mask and snorkel to deal with this soaking!

Now, for those watching the race viewer avidly at home, we hate to disappoint but we have spent the last couple of days under sailing the boat due to weather.

I realise we are slowly losing places but I’m sure you will all thank me for keeping your friends and family safe whether it be first or last. There is, however, still a long way to go so never say never and a lot can happen in 1,500 nautical miles.

I'm off to sleep so I can forget about the fact the scroll button isn't working on the mouse. Maybe Ray Gibson will have found a way to fix it by the time I wake up… hint, hint. I think it's more frustrating than the wind instruments at the minute!

Just while I remember I want to clarify for those reading at home, I haven't genuinely fallen out with John Olsen and the comments made in our blogs are what we in the trade call just a bit of banter.

Finally, a huge good luck to my lovely girlfriend Charlie who is off to do a double marathon in the Sahara in aid of GREAT Britain's fundraising for the Clipper Race Official Charity Partner, Unicef. Good luck!

Tomorrow is a new day,

Ciao for now

Andy and Team GREAT Britain