Race 1 - Day 27
Skipper Report
16 September

What a night!

We had a plan for today involving a Code 3 heavyweight spinnaker for reaching conditions and then a Code 2 mediumweight spinnaker for when the wind was more behind us, and a simple change between them. It all sounded very simple, however it was not to be.

We had the Code 3 flying from late morning and had made the smallest of gains on the vessels near us. We decided to switch to the Code 2 and finally got around to it at around 1700hrs. Once it was flying we discovered a number of small holes - time to take it down and replace with the Code 3 again.

After Chis Fox and Ann Marie Davis had repaired the holes with sticky sail repair tape we were all set to hoist the Code 2 again. Unfortunately for us the spinnaker popped open early during the hoist due to a number of factors and, before we could get it fully hoisted and under control, had wrapped itself round the forestays and a hole had appeared in it.

We now had a spinnaker almost flying with a hole in it and a slightly small one on the floor of the saloon that needed to be set for the third time. We had a regroup and a think and got set to woolling the Code 3, dropping the Code 2, hoisting the Code 3, getting the sewing machine out and repairing the Code 2 as well as sending Adam Cristol aloft to untangle some twisted halyards whilst packing and woolling the Code 2.

At watch change, when the supposedly-off Port Watch moved from inside to outside again, we shelved plans to hoist the Code 2 until we have all had a chance to recuperate. We know that the mighty dragon Qingdao cannot be far behind us and our hopes of catching Unicef must be firmly shelved. I need to remember that ocean racing is not about short-term gains and a much bigger picture must be considered.

On a much more positive and less serious note, today happens to be Ann Marie Davis' birthday, Mary Frawley has volunteered to stand-in as Mother and we hope to have a special meal later to celebrate. Ann Marie is one of our stronger characters onboard and a real motivator - she is always chirpy and positive. I look forward to the celebrations!

Conall