Champagne sailing day on Diomedea

• NEWS
• 27 Dec, 2005 08:24:00 PM

Champagne sailing day on Diomedea

PHS entrant Diomedea reports Tuesday evening on a champagne sailing day as the sun slowly sets in the west.

PHS entrant Diomedea reports Tuesday evening on a champagne sailing day as the sun slowly sets in the west.

After a clear start with good pressure up the harbour and through the heads, the crew settled into the first evening at sea confident they would be able to build on their solid start.

Alas, the wind gods were not kind. Trying to make an 18+ ton steel yacht achieve more than 3-4 knots in the light and variable 6-8 knot overnight breeze proved difficult.

Tuesday morning's sked confirmed the previous night's observations ... many of our lighter competitors had skipped away from us. However when the NE finally filled in, good pace returned with most of the day spent barrelling along at 8-10 knots.  The forecast 25-30 knot evening breeze and associated strong wind warning will certainly suit us!

We are steadily gaining on one of our "enemies" dead ahead and are hopeful of moving up the standings at Wednesday morning's sked.

Although the faster, more glamourous boats are past 40S, we are having fun in this year's race and thoroughly enjoying the experience.  The current on-deck crew is looking forward to hot showers with a rum and coke/ginger beer at the end of their watch.

More tomorrow (and perhaps a snap or two) if the CDMA-gods permit.

Jennifer Rezek
Navigator - Diomedea