RACE 11 - DAY 26 SKIPPER REPORT

If only it were closer.

Last time I left you with a good chance of winning Mandatory Finish Gate 2: we had laid the foundations for a good run into the gate. We had extracted ourselves from being on the wrong side of shifts where the best gybe would lead us to lighter pressure and positioned ourselves so we should have both favourable wind and current for the last 12 hours. This means the downwind angle was good. I had explained that the forecast was due to come in and the one we were using was 24hrs old.

It was about this time we stopped. Sails flapping side to side stopped. We stopped for a good four hours with hardly any movement until 4, 5 and 6 knots came. We had expected to be passaging almost due East, directly to the north end of the finish at about 8-9 knots boat speed but our wind hole was not in the forecast.

It was at this point we received the worst news. Not only were we going to lose positions to Mandatory Finish Gate 2 but the gate that was chosen as the Race Finish was Mandatory Finish Gate 3. This was a far worse prognosis.

The forecast showed 0-5 knots in a big wind hole, 200 miles in diameter that spanned all the way between Gates 2 and 3.

I believe we made it to 3rd place for Mandatory Finish Gate 2, congrats to the team for doing what they could whilst we had wind in our sails, even given the light breeze and wind hole.

Having achieved 2nd for Mandatory Finish Gate 1, the movement to Mandatory Finish Gate 3 meant we would be significantly disadvantaged again as the fleet sailed through this gate in about two days, bar Seattle and Imagine your Korea. Until this morning, they had spent three days in the void. So far in the past 18 hours I think we have averaged two knots of boatspeed. The forecast we currently have shows we may have wind in 24hrs/70 miles. Our anticipated finish of 3rd at Mandatory Finish Gate 2 is now likely a lower place at Mandatory Finish Gate 3 if we get going in the next day or two.

The crew are disappointed that we are not able to start the passage to Panama yet, to regroup ahead of a race we will hopefully be able to finish with the fleet.

We must first finish this one. If only it were closer but we do have a new forecast in a couple of hours so lets cross everything and hope for the best.