As I write this, TIMEZERO, (our routing software) says 825nm to go. After such a fast race, that seems like nothing. But as is normal towards any race end in this edition, we inevitably start talking about the traditional finish wind hole. Wind holes are annoying enough at any time, but right before the finish is another kind of torture. And for some reason, this race edition has had one every race. And now we learn all the previous ones were mere practice rounds for the one we are all trying to juggle now. "Synoptic chaos," I think Simon Rowell (our meteorology guru) called the weather situation we are currently in.

Just to paint you a picture, our playing ground is currently 460nm wide (the spread of the fleet sideways) and about 850nm long (distance to finish). Somewhere between all of us is a wind hole, currently mostly to our northeast, but slowly spreading southwest, and showing no signs of leaving anytime soon. To tackle this formidable hurdle, there are three options in play:

1) Northern route - This aims to go over the high, catching a powerful low that is developing to the west to ride that in at a nice speed. It means extra miles north, but also a shorter Ocean Sprint (so more chance for points there) and potentially a fast run-in when the low gets there in a few days. The big question is: which one will prove more powerful, the high or the low? If the high does not budge, these boats could be stuck for a while.

2) Middle route - This chooses to go with the rhumb line, the shortest number of miles. The forecast shows light bands of wind all across, so these boats should keep moving. But the moving is slow and a complete stop is not unthinkable. If they go too far north they will sail into the wind hole and if they don't make it east fast enough they will also be swallowed by it.

3) Southern route - This meant tacking southeast quite early on, making a lot of extra miles, and a good chance of having to beat (tack) up the Irish coast. But the upside is that the hard miles are now behind them (it is quite painful to have to sail basically away from the finish for a while), now the wind should make sure any boat on this route will at least keep moving towards Oban at a steady rate.

So after being virtually in each other's lap for most of the race, the fleet has now thoroughly split. Three boats are taking the northerly route, one the southerly and the rest the middle one. We are part of the middle pack. After many hours of staring at the forecasts and weighing the different options, we decided that with so much unknown the shortest route seemed a valid strategy, with manageable risks.

It is too soon to say which one will pay off. If this race has taught me anything, it is that we are so closely matched we might all very well arrive at the Finish Line at the same time. In any case, for now, we are moving (not too fast, but moving) and the mood on board is great. Everybody is super focused on this race as a lot is at stake for us. But that has not gone at the expense of having a good time together, which is great to see. (As I am writing this, John is telling yet another funny story that has the whole deck in giggles.)

Ineke, Joss and the laughing Sea Dogs

As I write this, TIMEZERO, (our routing software) says 825nm to go. After such a fast race, that seems like nothing. But as is normal towards any race end in this edition, we inevitably start talking about the traditional finish wind hole. Wind holes are annoying enough at any time, but right before the finish is another kind of torture. And for some reason, this race edition has had one every race. And now we learn all the previous ones were mere practice rounds for the one we are all trying to juggle now. "Synoptic chaos," I think Simon Rowell (our meteorology guru) called the weather situation we are currently in.

Just to paint you a picture, our playing ground is currently 460nm wide (the spread of the fleet sideways) and about 850nm long (distance to finish). Somewhere between all of us is a wind hole, currently mostly to our northeast, but slowly spreading southwest, and showing no signs of leaving anytime soon. To tackle this formidable hurdle, there are three options in play:

1) Northern route - This aims to go over the high, catching a powerful low that is developing to the west to ride that in at a nice speed. It means extra miles north, but also a shorter Ocean Sprint (so more chance for points there) and potentially a fast run-in when the low gets there in a few days. The big question is: which one will prove more powerful, the high or the low? If the high does not budge, these boats could be stuck for a while.

2) Middle route - This chooses to go with the rhumb line, the shortest number of miles. The forecast shows light bands of wind all across, so these boats should keep moving. But the moving is slow and a complete stop is not unthinkable. If they go too far north they will sail into the wind hole and if they don't make it east fast enough they will also be swallowed by it.

3) Southern route - This meant tacking southeast quite early on, making a lot of extra miles, and a good chance of having to beat (tack) up the Irish coast. But the upside is that the hard miles are now behind them (it is quite painful to have to sail basically away from the finish for a while), now the wind should make sure any boat on this route will at least keep moving towards Oban at a steady rate.

So after being virtually in each other's lap for most of the race, the fleet has now thoroughly split. Three boats are taking the northerly route, one the southerly and the rest the middle one. We are part of the middle pack. After many hours of staring at the forecasts and weighing the different options, we decided that with so much unknown the shortest route seemed a valid strategy, with manageable risks.

It is too soon to say which one will pay off. If this race has taught me anything, it is that we are so closely matched we might all very well arrive at the Finish Line at the same time. In any case, for now, we are moving (not too fast, but moving) and the mood onboard is great. Everybody is super focused on this race as a lot is at stake for us. But that has not gone at the expense of having a good time together, which is great to see. (As I am writing this, John is telling yet another funny story that has the whole deck in giggles.)

Ineke, Joss and the laughing Sea Dogs