We’re out on our own today with Perseverance having joined the main pack, and its main competition for this race Zhuhai, to the North after a marathon up the current with us. We had a tough time getting into the current yesterday when faced with 10 hours of unforecast back eddies, we lost some ground on the main pack. Fortunately, with the only viable decision being to stick to our guns, the current swung around just before halfway up and gave us some of the speed we’d been missing out on. Since then, we’ve been going fairly well, just hoping the forecast is as it tells us.
It’s July 4th today so all of our Americans are very happy, leaving the rest of us a little bemused although I’m sure we’ll enjoy the festivities nonetheless as our boat’s been transmogrified into little America. Hopefully, they won’t get too into it, take a life raft and try to secede from the boat.
We’re now closer to Oban than Washington, DC. Another mini milestone that many other boats have been mentioning the abundance of for this race. I think there’ve been so many milestones in almost every race but, being stuck in our racing mindsets, it’s hard to see the wood through the trees sometimes. It’s only now that the light of the end of the race illuminates the forest that it’s easier to see and embrace the smaller achievements.
It’s hard to believe we’re now in the same month as race finish. I still don’t believe it’ll actually happen, a feeling familiar to one I had back in late August regarding race start. How far we have come.
I read a blog by Laura, UNICEF AQP, the other day which referenced the song Loch Lomond. Coincidentally, that morning I’d just seen a really promising position report and what should come on but that song? For those in the know, Ha Long Bay’s C.O.O (Chief Omen Officer) Adrian was very happy with the lyrics “You take the high road and I’ll take the low road and I’ll be in Scotland before you”. I’m not saying all of our navigation is based off of omens but it certainly made us feel better about sticking with the current and perhaps is the reason UNICEF has dived down to tuck in behind us? Laura, over to you.
Hooroo cobbers,
Cam, Bob and the Ha Long Bay crew