Fingers crossed, this will be my last blog at sea for Leg 1!!! So, we left our little wind hole this morning and soon we were tanking along under Code 2 (mediumweight spinnaker) at 11 knots plus and pointing directly towards Uruguay. We have maintained this progress all through the day and into the night and are now (at 22:40 UTC, 20 September) and 275 nM (nautical miles) from Punta del Este and a big cold beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We hope to cross the line tonight and then smash out the deep clean on the morning of the 22 September, followed by customs, and then the much-anticipated beer.
We are working hard for a good finish, whilst at the same time trying to preserve our sails for future battles - it's a fine balance!! We are aware of the northern fleet making progress down the coast, the eastern fleet hot on our tails, and Wendo and Sanya Serenity Coast screaming away ahead of us. What a fascinating finish to a great first race.
Today’s Chefs, Catherine Foucher and David Greer, have been busy using up our food stuff and created a lovely chilli with rice followed, of course, by duff.
The Code 2 (mediumweight spinnaker) is now down and safely tucked away for another day. PSP Logistics is now under Yankee 2, Staysail and full Main, and charging through the night like a raging bull, achieving 14 knos plus at times.
There are mixed emotions onboard. Some can't wait to step ashore, and others wish they could stay at sea. But what is for sure, an ocean passage changes people. They see things differently after they learn how little you actually need to get by, that you can survive without endless means of communication devices, and that the world will not end just because you are not there!
For most it is liberating, staring at the night sky in all its glory, realising apart from a small amount of procession, that this is the same view that our ancestors had thousands of years before we were born. That some of the stars they are looking at may have died thousands of years ago and that what they are seeing is the light from the star that is still travelling long after the star expired.
Well, that's it for Leg 1, all focus and energy on tomorrow’s charge for the finish. A big shout to all of team PSP Logistics at home and those joining in Punta – Charles Allister (you still owe me a beer), Maggie Tsai, Chris Parnell, Matteo Grassi, and Sucheta Jadhav. We look forward to welcoming you on board and to another great adventure on the big blue!!
Stay safe
PSP Logistics xx