Today was our planned day for a visit from King Neptune and her Royal Highness, Amphitrite, but a little naughty Code 2 (mediumweight spinnaker) decided it had other plans - it decided it was going to visit them.
It was just about time for our crew lunchtime get together before the fun and games were about to start. Well, they are fun if you are running them and not being initiated.
I was for some very strange reason walking up to the bow - I had heard of this fabled land and thought I might check it out. Well then, with a large pop, naughty Code 2 landed in the water. We used a couple of soft strops to attach the head and the halyard together and these decided to let go, so one large sail came crashing down into the water.
We had talked about what to do if this should ever happen, so with a yell of all hands up on deck, we got the pesky sail back on board. You cannot believe how chuffed I am with how the crew all reacted. In my long ago youth I was a bit of sprinter but I reckon four crew members were up the bow within five seconds of me. The rest of the crew were then all lined up along the rail to manhandle the big wet sail back in. I am so proud of the crew - it just all went how it was supposed to. Sail back on board with no damage. We have talked about how it happened at the perfect time as the off watch were all getting ready to come on deck. If it was half an hour later it would have been quiet a spectacle to see King Neptune and Amphitrite pulling in the sail. Anyway, said Code 2 is back up. We did have the Code 3 (heavyweight spinnaker) up for a while but thought the only way to see if Code 2 is fine is to throw her back up.
We are racing and life is good, just had cake, even if it was a tad burnt as it was in the oven at the time of the great spinnaker incident in the middle of the day.
It is so nice to be back under kite and trucking along. It is all pretty straight forward for now but, as we get closer to Punta del Este, things will change. There is a big hole of light breeze for a bit so anything can happen. It’s going to be a race right till the end.
Love youse all
Wen