After keeping our Code 2 (mediumweight spinnaker) in the bag until first light, we pulled it up at sunrise and shot off. Unfortunately, the patch job we had done the night before after dragging it in the sea hadn't stuck too well so, by lunch time, the patches started peeling off. After our lunchtime meeting I ran through the plan.
We didn't have a Code 3 (heavyweight spinnaker) to put up in its place and the Code 1 (lightweight spinnaker) was a bit risky in the higher wind, so the evolution was as follows:
- Anti-wrap net down.
- Staysail up.
- Yankee 1 up.
- Course change and trim.
- Spinnaker patching against the clock.
- Spinnaker woolling against the clock.
- Reset the deck for spinnaker hoist.
- Spinnaker up.
- Yankee down.
- Staysail down. Anti-wrap net up.
All this to get us back to where we were before the patches started falling off.
We had a quick brief and off we went. It felt like everybody knew what they had to do and could get on and do it with me just calling the big picture - excellent. The team were all looking and thinking ahead and were focused on their job and what was happening at the other end of the bit of rope they were working, instead of turning to me for instruction. They had become sailors and the evolution was a pleasure.
Since then, we have been making best speed downwind. The forecast in front looks messy, and to get through without losing ground is going to take some good tactics and a whole heap of luck. I've been saving some up so we should be fine :-)