Race 1 - Day 2
Crew Diary - London, UK to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
02 September

Day 3 of the race and 2 night shifts completed already!

The happy crew of PSP Logistics are getting into the swing of the watch system and enjoying 2 mornings every day. Since our last post we have covered a lot of tricky ground, clearing the shipping lanes of the English channel and staying out of the red (on the chart and bullseye style) traffic separation zones (TSZ). These must be avoided at all cost lest we receive a minimum 6 hour penalty from Clipper Race Control (there are no excuses).

Our course took us past the Channel Islands, occasionally seeing our competition along the way and through the tight gap between a TSZ and the Ile D'Oessant, it was here that things got interesting...

Hoping to make it round the headland before the tide turned, we hit a large wind hole, stopped and then started going backwards on the tide. Multiple sail changes involving the Code 1 Spinnaker, Yankee/Staysail, Wind Seeker and just main followed, we didnt realise how hard work light winds can be. We watched some boats tighter into shore suddenly take off at 11 knots, the boats up ahead had good breeze and opened up a healthy lead (for now!). We drifted with Clipper Telemed just off our starboard side and in the same predicament.

Crossing behind them with a half hearted wave, we finally found some breeze, but only after Terry had changed into his shorts, which are now lucky and must be used in times of need.

Bacon butties and later an awesome shepherds pie from the mothers kept spirits high, a couple of dolphins added to the euphoria and we were soon sailing well across the notorious Bay of Biscay under spinnaker and watching the sun descend. We have some boats behind and some boats in front. With 4,500 miles of ocean to go this is just fine with us because everyone is safe, happy and nothing is broken.