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FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Well here we are just off Plymouth shrouded in fog. A grey day in the middle of July, but suppose that's typical England. All relieved to see first light this morning after a horrendous night when everything that cld go wrong seemed to. Definitely not one of our best - full of excitement but unnecessarily stressful. Having sailed some 29,800 miles around the world, we entered the English Channel last night feeling very chuffed wth ourselves + pleased to be back in home waters. This was, after all, our old stomping ground - fastnet track + further along our training ground. It was 1800 hrs + we were heading towards Bishop's Rock, Isle of Scilly, kite flying in 23 kts of breeze, when we had a brief encounter wth a tanker that emerged frm the fog within half a mile of us! At the same time the wind started gusting up to 29 kts. As the apparent reached 22 kts we knew we were riding on the edge of a blow out. Dialling down we noticed a tear in the clew patch and later noticed one in the head. Dropping the kite rather swiftly, we sent it below for repair. Wth the wind still gusting the flanker was hoisted but unfortunately it was the wrong side of the staysail halyard +, of course, it filled before it got to the top of the mast! Unable to free the halyard, there was no alternative but to spike it at the fitting on deck + let it run away. The flanker miraculously escaped unscathed but was now still a long way frm the top of the mast. After a considerable amount of grinding, and huffing + puffing it was finally made good + we got the kite flying properly. What next - well then of course someone had to venture up to the top of the mast to rescue the halyard! 'Pretty damn average that was, how many more times do we need to go round the world to get it right ?!' barked Skipper, Mike Golding. Watch change came around + port watch noticed the shackle which holds the spinnaker into the top of mast had come free - allowing the flanker to drop 10 ft + placing all the weight on the spectacle guide. This then broke away frm the mast, dropping the flanker a further 3 ft. It was, amazingly, still flying! Now all the halyard load was on the halyard exit at top of mast + it was likely to chafe through very quickly, so there was nothing for it but to drop the kite. By this time the heavy kite had been repaired + was ready to hoist again. Using the other halyard (stbd) it went up but, oh no - there was a twist in it! Not surprisingly it didn't open properly + instead decided to wrap itself around the forestay + blew out. Bowman, Timon Robson was soon up the forestay trying to unwrap it but in trying got himself entwined + became cocooned 30ft above the deck. Being ineffective in his efforts, the remains of the spinnaker were slowly pulled down the forestay bit by bit, before skipper finally took the bread knife to it + cut the remnants free. Before daring to hoist another spinnaker, Timon scurried to the top of the mast to find out whether any damage, caused by the ripping out of the spectacle, may have contributed to the blowing of the heavy. At the same time, he replaced the D shackle + re-rove the port halyard. Ready to go again, the promo kite was brought onto deck. Up it went but two thirds of the way up it filled! Could this really be happening - another long, hard grind the rest of the way! And obviously another circumnavigation required to get it right! One + a half hours later we were finally sailing again...... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Not as many miles made as we wld hve liked but wind direction and speed very variable all day Sunday, making it difficult to find the right gybe + keep a good course. After gaining 11 miles on Tosh in the morning, lost 8 overnight. Yachts at the back of the fleet sailing in good pressure, making good mileage reflected in the last 3 scheds. Wth better wind direction + pressure this morning, we're making a good course which will hopefully help us on our way. Moved into the Western Approaches last night, sighting an incredible number of fishing vessels, illuminating the horizon. Having witnessed a spectacular display of leaping tuna in the afternoon, we knew the fishing ground was good. Tuna sighted were 3 ft in size + extremely plump, at first we believed they were dolphins! Bishop's Rock now only 130 nmiles away, Southampton feels closer every hour. Hearing the BBC shipping forecasts + working frm familiar charts now, the end is becoming real + thoughts turning to the finish and our arrival home. Trucking on ..... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Our last weekend at sea, our last freeze-dried mince beef + onion and the start of our final week of the BTGC. We won't be sad to eat our last freeze-dried meal but we will be sad to finish the race + go our separate ways. Having been together for the last 10 months, living out of each others pockets, we hve made some special relationships + formed some strong bonds, the type that wld not be usual in every day life. Those relationships spread right across the fleet, so our final goodbyes will extend much further than our 13 teammates. After a day of flankering we are now under heavy kite, making slower progress in 14 knots of breeze but still achieving 8 knots wpt closure. Just 300 miles to go to Bishop's Rock then another 200 into the English Channel + up Southampton Water. The TTG is becoming the focus of all eyes + the topic of much conversation. A near contender in the conversation stakes is the weather. Will we or won't we hve wind all the way home and frm which direction? Weather faxes + shipping forecasts coming in thick + fast, just to check + double check we won't run out of wind. Across the fleet much talk of rationing, not just of food but more importantly the toilet roll! Seem 2 b doing ok on both counts, though the menu is becoming more + more interesting as meals take on a new identity - a little of Friday's mixed wth Saturday's + so it goes on!! All looking forward to hitting the dock (not literally we hope!)... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton A nerve tingling time as we kite along right on the edge. Physically and mentally hard work for the helms whose concentration must not wander for a moment. Just coming up that few degrees cld be disasterous so it's 100% focus + lots of trimming calls. This has at least given us another excellent day's run + has helped to eat away at the miles. Time to go is looking healthy and the food rations can be eased a little. Spirits raised as weather looks more promising for the remainder of the leg. A bizarre incident last night as we kited along in 20 kts of breeze at 333 degrees. The sky above took on a distinctly dark look and suddenly we hve a 160 degree wind shift + the wind is just 4 kts. Main is backing as the yacht wants to tack but the flanker must be brought down pronto. Drizzle starts. Up wth the headsail + ready to tack, but, oh, the wind has swung back to 333 degrees + we've got 20 kts again! Seemed to be our own personal cloud. Playing 2 mile trades wth Tosh. They're in credit at the moment! Heading home ... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Tromping along this morning in 23 kts of breeze, making 10-11 knots boat speed + excellent wpt. Right on course, we've now got just 762 miles to Bishop's Rock + the GPS Time To Go is in play wth 80 hrs showing right now. A further psychological barrier passed once that little panel lights up! A good day yesterday clocking up 207 nm daily run. Headsail sailing all day. Lost 4 miles to Toshiba but made 3 back overnight. Rest of the fleet still making gains which brings us all ever closer together. Weather outlook looking good as we truck along in this small low pressure system. Wth a larger low hovering over Ireland it looks like there may be wind all the way home now - yes! Tromping along ..... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Wth Tosh still on our tails we've been working harder than ever to pull away. Spinnakers up + down like crazy + headsails in between, as the wind continually changed direction + strength. Lots of spinny packing down below, sometimes not enough time to finish before it was being hoisted straight out the forepeak. No time for bagging, minutes matter! By the end of the day, however, our efforts had been rewarded - Tosh was 8 miles further behind, her masthead light just visible now + again. Winds light + heading us badly last night. Wth genoa up we were some 40 degrees off course, not able to do much about it. Confused by the lack of weather on the fax, we cldn't understand what was happening. Seems that the low pressure system frm the west was moving faster than expected + we were south of it, giving us TWD of 60 degrees. Yachts at the back of the fleet making gains frm the system which is great news. At least that will help reduce the spread of the fleet + make for a tighter finishing period in Soton. Chogging on ..... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Amazing day match racing wth Toshiba. Having them alongside has really increased the competitive spirit on board. Both crews watching one another closely, observing carefully any activity on deck or any approach towards the foredeck where a sail change might be about to happen. A copy cat effect - if one changes a sail so does the other, making this a truly one design race! And maintaining the best course, adjusting if the other looks 2 b making slightly better progress. This is covering to the nth degree! However, during the hours of darkness we hve managed to pull away slightly. From an equal lead Tuesday evening, we r now 2 miles ahead, having really kept the pressure on overnight. Our best daily run this leg achieved yesterday - some 251.8 miles! If we cld keep this up we might recover some of the lost ground but the weatherfax show light winds ahead. We only caught the tail end of the low yesterday - it was moving much faster than ourselves. However, there is another trucking over frm the west which we may b able to catch fully, all being well. Fighting on ......... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Well here we r again, trucking along in the fog - a total blanket of whiteness - very Christmassy if it were December. Instead it's July + we're all getting a little fed up wth this cold, damp stuff that seems to hve engulfed us for the past 3-4 days. A little reprieve yesterday afternoon as the sun managed to burn through. It was great to see the horizon + a particularly stunning sunset. Then at 0200 GMT it came down again + looks like it'll be a repeat of yesterday. Weather conditions once again giving some strange instrument readings + the wind direction + speed changing continuallly. Heavy kite, light kite, heavy kite - it's been one of those mornings! Have taken the lead from 3COM this morning, just a mile so not much to get excited about. Ghosting along in this whiteness .... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Our second best run of the leg - 197 nm - wow! No record run on this leg it seems! Still Ana arrived + we've had an average of 21 kts of wind for the last 24 hrs keeping us trucking. Spirits lifted as we see we're making progress towards the wpt - now only 75 miles away. A further boost as we took the lead last night - slim though it is. Wind direction not the most favourable at the moment but hoping it will lift us soon + carry us around Alpha. The 'extratropical' depression brought wth it grey skies + rain, a few chunks of pineapple + some tangy orange. Foulies appeared + the fruits were eagerly devoured! First reef in + out all day + the No 2 appeared for the 1st time for a long while. 3Com in sight last night but this morning they've become an enigma. Perhaps we'll meet again at Alpha! Trucking on ...... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton Breeze at last! The yacht is leaning + we're moving - a welcome feeling after the last few days. We feel like we're sailing + making some progress towards home. At present the most right hand boat in the fleet as we all make our way towards waypoint Alpha. Wth 19 knots SE breeze we're making 9 knots boat speed + wth Tropical Depression Ana coming in behind us we should b well positioned 2 pass close to Alpha before heading off north east. Although Ana is dissipating, there is still some 25-35 knots in her so we should make some good mileage once she's caught us up! Moving at last .... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 Boston - Southampton The water is as smooth as glass, the wind has pretty much gone. All in all this makes the Doldrums positively wonderful. On a good note we're in the company of a few of the fleet - Concert just out to our left and Kids out to the right. The boat is still moving, just, and it's been a lovely night with the stars out and the weather mild. Hoping the wind will pick up soon and start pushing us towards the waypoint, maybe next watch ......
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 - Boston - Southampton As the fog cleared, we could once again see the lights of the fleet all around, including an additional one. Concert appeared on the horizon obviously eager to join this party - now a total of 8 Challenge yachts in this group. Quite an awesome sight during the day wth spinnakers flying + everyone jostling to make gains. Some amazing current effects as we crossed Georges Bank this morning. Nuclear Electric took off so fast she cld hve been under motor + later 3Com was lifted sideways, looking somewhat out of control as she cavorted towards Nuclear Electric broadside on. Tonight the sea surface temperature has been rising + falling rapidly as we weave in and out of continental shelf waters + dense fog engulfed us all for a couple of hours. During the day however, it's been sunshine, spinnakers, dolphins + whales - somewhat similar to the leg frm Cape Town to Boston. Onward we all go to the waypoint, where the fleet will probably split for the final sprint back to the Solent.
FROM GROUP 4 Leg 6 - Boston - Southampton So this is it ! We are homeward bound. The last leg of the race is already upon us and within 3 weeks this will be over. It's a very emotional time for us all and clearly two distinct divisions among the crews - those that are looking forward to completing the race and getting home - back to families and friends, and then those that just don't want it to end. Standing on the dockside in Boston Harbour this morning wth the sun beating down and the temperature soaring above 90 degrees, emotions were evident. Looking down at colourful sight of all the yachts, the flags, the crews in their sponsor crew kit and seeing the crowds who had turned out to say a last farewell, a lump rose in the throat and a tear slipped down many a cheek. As we hugged each other + wished one another luck and safe sailing we were struck by the fact that this was the last time we'd be sharing such a special moment. The parties may not yet be over but the a feeling of separation is creeping in. The closeness amongst the crews, the feeling of comradeship, shared experiences, common fears and excitement is diminishing as reunions with families and friends take on a more important role and reality begins to dawn. What happens next ? A common question on the lips of many. How will I ever find anything to fix my adrendalin addiction or meet the euphoric feelings that this race has brought about? The feeling of accomplishment, self satisfaction and comradery is unique and although the memory will stay with us forever we will never feel or experience anything as strong and as meaningful as this again. This is something truly special and will take a lot of getting over.
FROM GROUP 4 Another day dawns + here we r just 110 miles frm the finish line + wth Concert in our sights. After 6,000 miles it is hard 2 believe that the finish will b so close. Overnight Concert stole back the miles they lost yesterday + as we became more + more headed it became harder + harder 2 make the course. Wth land straight ahead of us + the coast looming fast we were waiting + willing either a nice big lift or an even bigger header. The agony continued 4 almost 8 hours + the coast got closer. Just 10 miles 2 the coastline + we realised we'd hve 2 bite the bullet + put in an unfavourable tack, probably putting us some 17 miles behind Concert. Spirits were low, this wld certainly b the end of the battle 4 1st place. However, someone somewhere was on our side + we suddenly saw the wind changing direction. A real big header + yes we tacked onto a favourable tack - phew that was close. Now another chance 2 get that 1st position back. This shift wld presumably be less favourable 4 Concert + if we cld get some wind we'd be off. However, here we r some 6 hours later wallowing around in just 5 knots of wind. Wth small shifts in the wind direction we're tacking back + forth trying desperatley to make good speed. With the coast in sight CT seems to close and yet so far. Best Wishes Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 So it's into the final furlong + it's Grp 4 + Concert neck + neck. A slight nudge ahead by Grp 4 but Concert gathering pace + ........ The battle goes on + the pace quickens. As we claw back the miles + take the lead again, we realise how very close the end of leg will b. The temperature rises on board Grp 4 + we r sure it's pretty hot on board Concert too. Everyone focused on the final 265 miles + keeping the boat moving at optimum speed. Trim, trim, trim - it's that old adage. All so aware that even a point of a knot cld b crucial 2 the final outcome now + everyone pushing themselves + the yacht 2 the limits, despite the general feeling of fatigue (both us + Grp 4 herself!). Trucking on 2 CT where it will b beers all round whoever crosses that line 1st.
FROM GROUP 4 'Beasting along' as our friends on Global Teamwork wld say. Trying 2 claw back those miles stolen by Concert overnight. Straight down the track wth 40 knots of wind behind us, making 16-17 kts boat speed + 12-14 kts waypoint closure. This is our last stand, no holding back - let's 'GO FOR IT'. Planeing along on some very big waves, feels like we're on a ski slalom track as the boat gets onto a wave + we literally take off. Shouts + yelps heard frm cockpit as the boat accelerates + we eagerly watch the speedometer rise wth excited anticipation - will it register a new speed record ?. Just out of the Roaring Forties now but seas look the same size Onwards 2 CT.....
FROM GROUP 4 A nailbiting day as we see miles slip away frm us. Concert now the most westerly boat in the fleet has the benefit of better pressure being closer to the centre of the southerly low. Consequently, they hve gained another 7 miles on us this morning. We wait desperate 2 b headed. At present we r trucking west right into the path of another low + a potential windless zone between this + a ridge. Unless we hve a significant wind shift we can't get out of this. To tack now wld take us off too far nth + potentially put us behind Tosh. What we really need is a good sw wind on which we can tack + head n/w towards CT. Tension mounts on board as we await the next weatherfax. Spirits r low as reality dawns - our lead is dwindling + Concert hve the edge. But it's not over until the fat lady sings !
FROM GROUP 4 Wth the spinnaker flying once again, it was time 2 try out our newly designed + constructed monster of a jockey pole, our old one hving bid us farewell somewhere in the Southern Ocean. Pole designer Timon Robson stood by nervously watching as the wind increased + the loads on the guy increased wth it. A few creaks + groans + it settled down again. Colour returned 2 his face + a smug grin appeared across his mouth. It was working. What looks like a whaling gun sticks out frm the side of the mast of Group 4, trussed together wth rope + bungy. An old headsail track car protrudes frm the far end where the guy rolls over the car. So far it has served us well, although there is a question over its durability. A no go zone has been marked wthin which those that dare risk their lives. Trimming is therefore an art in itself+ the trimmers find themselves in some difficult + compromising positions in which they watch the curl of the kite.
FROM GROUP 4 It was too much too hope that we might sail straight through this high pressure system. After making reasonable progress within the system yesterday, here we r this morning, into our 13th hour of unbearably slow progress wth winds down 2 just 7 knots + the barometer stuck (4 last 11 hrs) at 1033 mb. Moving at snails pace overnight the wind continued in its variable direction phase. Finally it decided 2 head us nearly 40 degrees + we thought this is it, we're finally coming out of the other side. But no, it teased us all 4 a further 6 hours flicking back + forth. Heading, then lifting us, we tacked back + forth trying 2 keep the boat moving wth the little wind we had. The wind has now settled into a N/NW direction + we're just about moving. Tosh seem 2 b suffering as we hve done, whilst, Concert south of us seem 2 b making gains right now So it's down 2 the trimmers to trim, trim, trim. As Chay so rightly told us - u can win or lose a race if u don't follow this basic rule.
FROM GROUP 4 A gentle roll + a hushed silence has come over the yacht in the last 2 days. No longer pounding into waves + close on the breeze, there's an air of tranquility, even serenity as we reach along, well off the breeze. Sleep comes much easier in these conditions + we're all at last able to get into that deep sleep pattern we so desire. This high has cost us some 13 miles to Tosh. Where we entered the system we hit light + variable winds making progress over a 6hr period incredibly slow. Thankfully since then the wind has maintained its strength although the variation in direction has been some 30 degrees with squalls every 40 mins 4 a 10hr period. Boat speed + waypoint closure hve been high since, despite heading into the centre of this huge high pressure off the south coast of South Africa. The barometer reads 1028, which indicates we're at the centre. Today winds r lighter but we've managed 2 pull back 3 miles on Toshiba + we hope that we may slip out the side of this high relatively unscathed. Trucking north is paramount to beating the next high - so here we go!
FROM GROUP 4 In light of recent revelations throughout the fleet, G4 also wish to report some experience of highly trained and destructive biological sabateurs. We had first hand experience of the keel nibbling whale whilst sailing off Copacobana Beach and have heard rumours of a similar incident in Sydney, and contact with a highly voracious species of radar eating krill in the Southern Ocean really turned our world upsidedown.
It occurs to us that such a devastatingly widespread project could
only be carried out by a high tech company with genuinely unlimited
resources perhaps with connections to a country renowned for its
'research' into whales and its 'unfortunate' trapping of dolphin in
tuna nets. Eyewitness reports from the Sydney start have indicated
that a sophisticated ZX81 andriod (possibly constructed by the same
conglomorate) bent on destruction may have been placed aboard one of
the yachts - perhaps in a position of authority, the droids real
purpose remains unknown / unclear. Also the recent sailing of the
Pacific Teal ship from Sellafield to Japan is another worrying
connection which may shed further light on these ocean going mutants.
We believe a further fleetwide investigation is needed as reliance on
our UK contacts cannot be fully trusted whilst they maintain their
communication blackout their allegiance remains unclear.
FROM GROUP 4 What r these strange goings on aboard Group 4? Some weird creation has taken place in the starbrd triple cabin, now known as The Pod 2 all on board. The cabin has been totally transformed wth black bin liners + duct tape. Jack Ward + Bill Shuff our 2 oldest crew members r the regular occupants of this cabin + created The Pod in an attempt 2 thwart the floods of water which cascade down the walls + ceilings + through airvents. Rumours that The Pod was in fact a cocoon frm which they might emerge in a new and younger form r so far unsubstantiated. News frm the port side of the yacht includes the midnight sighting of an extremely large cockroach, the bed ridden eye witness who may well hve been under the influence of an excessive dose of Ibruprofen (smarties) said they 1st noticed somthing odd when the lightweight spinnaker bag started to scuttle across the floor. Strange but true ...
FROM GROUP 4 Weather faxes overnight clearly showed the approach of a huge wind shift to the SSW - potential high speed close kite reaching territory. Our only problem was that during the last storm our jockey pole, wth which we brace the spinnaker guy in such conditions, was lost over the side when a huge wave broke the lashings. So early this morning the Group 4 design team set 2 work devising a replacement system. Bits frm the main engine, spare blocks + the tube frm the now useless scan strut were gathered together below + a jury rigged jokey pole was created amidst the noises of hacksaws and hammering. Four hours later the makeshift jockey pole appeared frm the depths of the forepeak ready 4 action. Whilst the scan strut has been put 2 good use, the pushpit rail is now adorned wth a cluster of ariels which used 2 b 10ft in the air + the smashed radar scanner rests forelorn + broken in the forepeak. Having designed our new pole all we needed was the windshift 2 try it out. True 2 form the shift appeared a few hours later setting us off on a new more nth going track at speeds in excess of 10kts. Sadly however, after all that work, the new pole was not needed. It will now hve 2 wait 4 another day.
FROM GROUP 4 Easter Sunday - a very happy easter 2 u all at RHQ. Hving so much fun today that the report simply slipped our minds - whoops. Well today brings us typical English bank holiday weather - complete cloud cover, grey wth light drizzle + poor visability. It's not too cold although we're all togged up wth thermals of course. You'll probably b telling us tonite that you've had a wonderful sunny day wth blue skies + been sailing in short sleeves again. Anyway we don't mind this, at least we've finally got going again wth a decent 20-24 knot breeze blowing frm the NW lifting us onto course at last + giving us 9-10 knts boat speed + 9+ waypoint closure. We can't tell u how depressing it has been seeing waypt closure down at 4/5 knots the last 4 days. Not v motivating 4 anyone, least of all when we see those behind eating up the miles. So now we're off again+ spirits hve risen tremendously, coupled wth the fact that our stowaway bunny - Floppy - delivered a basketful of Cadbury's cream eggs today. Wth all our Easter wishes.
FROM GROUP 4 Easter Saturday + hot cross buns plague everyone's mind. After the most frustrating 24 hrs of problems + an horrific storm yesterday afternoon / evening, we're all longing 4 some home comforts + a few Easter treats. Can it really get any worse? we asked our skipper. "Well this is my 3rd time down here + I've never seen anything like it ever before - u cld genuinely describe this sea state as phenomenal'. The horror of loosing our steering at the height of the storm was more than we cld possibly take. 55 knots of wind across the deck + waves 60ft high looking like mountains you'd never imagine surrmountable + valleys deep enough 2 swallow us whole. When the helm shouted 'we've lost steerage' a look of panic enveloped the faces of the on-watch crew. Thoughts of another knockdown frightened us all. Cld this really b happening 2 us. Less than 24 hrs before we'd suffered a broken mainsail head car pin + lost nearly 2 hrs wallowing in heavy swell. And to top it all off, as we completed the steering repair + tacked back onto course we noticed a tear in the No 3 - effected during the period hove to. We thought passing the Kerguelen Isles wld bring better weather but what fools we are! This is still very much Southern Ocean racing or Southern Ocean survival as it has latterly become.
FROM GROUP 4 Horrific seas + storm still raging here after 12 hrs. Large waves + a massive s/w sea swell making progress slow + particularly uncomfortable. Boat slamming into head waves + cross waves slamming into us. On-watch suffering a nightmare time on deck. Off-watch all unable 2 sleep as bouncing out of bunks + banging head on ceiling + walls continually! This is one of the worst seas we've seen - seems so confused + in complete turmoil. Alex in the galley is hanging on 4 grim death but has managed, somehow, 2 prepare a great lunch. Looking at the latest weatherfax we r in this 4 a while yet, although barometer is rising as the centre of the low passes beneath us. What joy this Easter Weekend! Happy Good Friday 2 all.
FROM GROUP 4 A night frm hell wth wind + waves making the ride pretty hairy. Controlling the boat was not easy given the waves that were hitting us on the beam + even wth 3 reefs + stormstaysail the boat was overpowered + beyond control, tho' speeds + waypoint closure were bth good. This morning has been more than frustrating. Hving sailed into the top of a low we've been faced wth light winds. Trying 2 get thro' these big seas wthout power is impossible + so we sit + wallow waiting 4 this low 2 pass. Meanwhile our nearest rival Concert is lifted on to our latitude + gains some more miles westing - oh no!
FROM GROUP 4 'Helm to lee' came the call we had all been waiting 4 + round we went. It was 1500 hrs + at last we had the header we'd been waiting 4. Not that we'd been bored, the increasing breeze had kept us busy in the interim wth sail changes + reefing. Once it came we were off with 9.5 knots boat speed + a great lift on to the course. Yes this was it - 'Kerguelen here we come'. Ten hours later at 18:38:50 GMT we were there, skimming past the waypoint wth just an 1 inch 2 spare. Just like round the cans stuff down in the Solent. Phew - a sigh of relief all round - Concert, Tosh + Kids were all behind - we'd made it round ahead of them after all.
FROM GROUP 4
A game of strategy as we near the waypoint. Wanting to head north to
the waypoint now but the wind is right on the nose. Therefore
continuing west, making slow progress - it seems unfavoured on both
tacks.
FROM GROUP 4
Over the course of Sunday the winds backed nearly 270 deg. Starting
off E/NE directly behind us we slowly became headed and then tacked.
Spending most of the morning under No1Y in winds of 17-19Kn. A NW
change and ease in the wind meant at lunch we underhanked the genoa
only to unhank it again 20 mins later as the wind rose to 24Kn
FROM GROUP 4
Leg 4 - Sydney - Cape Town
FROM GROUP 4
Oh dear late again. Problems wth pc again + another day spent drying
it out. Too much dampness about. Everytime the heater breaks down
the pc goes sick.
FROM GROUP 4
The general sentiment across the fleet seems 2 b get me to Cape Town
quick. Everyone onboard Group 4 endorsing Valerie's comment made
on the video - 'it's awful'. What a smart girl 2 get off!
FROM GROUP 4
Well here we r some 24 hrs later still picking up the pieces frm our
knockdown. This extremely late report follows an afternoon + evening
of drying out the computer + keyboard, having firstly fixed the
heater + eventually got some warmth back into the boat. A few dodgy
keys remain but on the whole the pc is functioning + we r able to
communicate wth the outside world again. Thank goodness - the
thought of 3 weeks wthout comms was just unbearable - although
reporting wld hve been easy + extra sleep wld hve been welcome!
FROM GROUP 4
Here we r hanging on for our lives once again as we truck into
the path of another storm. Whether this one will take the No 1
position as the 'Mother of Storms' still remains uncertain but the
barometer has been dropping steadily the last few hours. In fact,
over 14mb in 6 hours. Wth winds reaching 43 knots just before lunch
we now seem to be in a bit of a lull - just 32 knots over the deck!
FROM GROUP 4
Wow - the genoa is flying once again. After blowing the largest sail
of our sail wardrobe to shreds last week we are back in business
with it up + working once again.
FROM GROUP 4
Wind again! Yes - we're off again. A fantastic sailing day - clear
blue sky + sun, we're bang on course wth good wind reaching 24 knots.
Really trucking along making 9.5 knots waypoint closure. This is
more like it. At least we feel we're making some progress towards
Cape Town once again. A big morale boost.
FROM GROUP 4
ICE REPORT
FROM GROUP 4
Battle wth Wave Warrior
FROM GROUP 4
Icebergs seem to be the talk of the fleet today. Wth sightings comes
the excitement of this unique experience but as the fog gets thicker
+ darkness approaches a sense of concern unites us all.
FROM GROUP 4
To: RHQ
FROM GROUP 4
ICE REPORT
FROM GROUP 4
After a 25 hr descent the barometer finally steadied at 971! Quite
some low. It may well hve gone lower but at that point in the storm
we decided to bail out + head north. Looking at the weatherfax
tonight the centre of the low reached 947 - there must be a God at
50 degrees, Mike!
FROM GROUP 4
Deeper + deeper into the low. That's the way we're going. The
barometer has fallen steadily over the last 16 hrs + continues to
drop now. Quite how low it will go we don't know, but this heavy
weather has really set in + we've been struggling to survive in 45
knot winds for most of the day.
FROM GROUP 4
This is the sort of day we like - heavy weather, 30 knots of
breeze frm a favourable direction allowing us to make the course +
make good boat + waypoints closure. Yes, hard work
perhaps wth extremely wet + difficult sail changes but that's what
works for us. Gains made on Global Teamwork today which is quite
satisfying. Seems that Tosh, Kids + ourselves hve at last started
to close the gap on the leaders. Feel GT may not be able to sail
such good angles down where they are + hence the gains.
FROM GROUP 4 Flying along all night we made a 1 mile gain on Global Teamwork, 5 miles on STC + 3 miles on Toshiba. Great news we thought but then..... Within hours we were becalmed. In a big swell we slopped around, sails unfilled moving ahead only as a result of the leebowing effect of the current. This couldn't really be happening cld it? Oh yes. Wth the wind swinging forward we were touching spinnaker country. 7 knots of breeze + we tentatively put up the heavy spinnaker. Was this swell going to be too much ? A couple of hours later + we were back under genoa when the wind picked up wthout warning. Within minutes we had 30 knots of breeze + needed a No 3, stormstaysail and 3 reefs in the main. What a difference. Looking at the positions this evening it seems, however, that we fell into our own private hole this morning. GT, STC + Tosh seem to hve been uneffected + hve all made gains on us today. Well this is blue water racing. The race goes on .......... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Here we go ! With 30 knots of breeze + true wind angle of 130 degrees we are flying along + bang on course. Boat speed up at 11 knots + waypoint closure around 10.5 knots. What more could we ask ?! Just a continuation of this for several hours please! Where did this wind come from? Six hours ago the wind was 16 knots coming frm 256 degrees. Within 7 hours it's gone forward 80 degrees - just amazing. The weatherfax didn't show this at all. So where has it come from we've been asking skipper. The latest weatherfax has just zapped across the airwaves + yes there's this funny little blip just below the front at 50 degrees south. That's it, that's us there. We're obviously getting this from the circulation at the foot of the front. Funny old thing - something difficult to actually pick out from earlier faxes. Anuway we're not complaining - it's brilliant - we're flying + having taken 2nd position from STC this morning, we're hoping to increase our gains + MAYBE even catch up with Global Teamwork. Who knows ! Fingers crossed. Off we go........ Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 It's going to be a long hard slog to Cape Town. We seem to be making such slow progress + wth a series of fronts on their way giving westerly winds it doesn't look much better. Difficult conditions making it hard to get good boat speed today has put us back behind Toshiba. It seems at the moment that any small gain is followed by a small loss. Oh that Cape Town was just around the corner! The cold weather is setting in now. Definitely full kit required on deck wth hats + gloves to keep those extremes warm. Lots of deck work + sail changes now + ahead. Spirits on board high, despite the fact everyone is tired. Trucking on.... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Having watched the barometer falling for 29 hrs the front finally arrived + wth it came rain, hail + strong winds reaching 40 knots at times. Of course it came at night - our first storm this leg - arrived in pitch blackness. At 2200 hrs the system moved through, the wind began to increase + we began to work our way through the sail wardrobe - No 1 down, No 2 up, two reefs, No 2 down, No 3 up until we thought it had passed. Then out came the reefs, down came the No 3, up went the No 2 followed closely by the No 1 again. Wishful thinking, of course, in went the 1st reef, down came the No 1 + up went the No 2, a couple of reefs + then the No 3, a change to the stormstaysail, a third reef and a couple of quick tacks back + forth to find the favoured tack. And all before breakfast!! And so it continued all day today + still this evening. At least in the daylight it's a liitle easier 2 actually see what you're doing. The swell has been big + the dreaded dropping off waves has begun again. Hold on tight everyone! Bruised, battered, cold, wet + weary but loving every minute of it. Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Oh what a start to a day. After a lovely 3 hr sleep we awoke 2 the depressing news that STC were back at the front of fleet hving gained 7 miles in a 6 hour period + more depressingly Global Teamwork had jumped frm 12th position + 14 miles behind the fleet to 2nd position just 2 miles behind the Kids. Was this really happening? Well done Merv! His strategy has really paid off + he deserves the credit. He's really got some nerve 2 play such a wild card. Wth Pause only a mile away + Toshiba in view to the north the pressure was on to make some visible gains. As the breeze fell off, a peel to the lightweight spinnaker helped to keep the pace on + during a six hour period we saw Pause fade into the distance - a satisfying feeling - just 4 a while. We still await this cold front. Oh that it comes + we can get put our first storm behind us. The first is always the worst + the waiting is unbearable! Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 'Gybe, peel, peel, gybe' the calls continued all day. Since rounding the corner and sliding away frm the Tasmanian Coast we seem to hve done nothing but gybe + peel kites. Wth the wind swinging thro' 25 degrees continually, we've been constanting questioning the gybe - was this favoured or not? Shld we try the other one, perhaps yes just 2 b sure + so it went on...... Keeping offshore we've been able to maintain a good wind all day + wth what looks like a cold front approaching soon, we hope we're in the right place 2 take advantage of this new system. In the last couple of hours the seas hve been building + what feels like a Southern Ocean swell has begun 2 set in. The excitement of the afternoon must be noted. It was quite awesome. In the distance just before the Eddystone Rock we cld see hundreds of birds hovering + swooping over the sea. Then as we approached we cld see the fin of a killer whale protuding some 5ft above the waves + then a pod of young killer whales + some rather fast moving seals ducking + diving between the waves. This was a feeding frenzy + the birds were there for the left overs! And guess what we did in the middle of it all - yes you got it, GYBED! Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 So what do we hve here? 5.8 knots of wind, a flat calm sea + the sun setting over a spectacular Tasman coastline. But what else - 11 Challenge yachts in close proximity - is this for real or is it a bad dream ?! After four days of hard racing, working round the clock + pressing the boat along to get ahead + make some early gains, it's a liitle demoralising to see the fleet all around us. A reminder of the concertina effect which descended on the fleet 200 miles frm Sydney + we're all too well aware of the effect that had. So this is why Chay sent us this way + not through the Bass Straits - so we could all meet up together some 4 days out of Sydney + restart the race at the Tasman Head! Yes he likes to keep the competitive element hot + he's certainly done it again ! Right now however, in these light airs, all we can do is watch one another as the breeze line moves through the fleet. It's going to be a long, agonising night. Roll on the Southern Ocean .... Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 Yachts on the inside hve been gaining on us today. Global Teamwork pulled back 12 miles in a 6 hour period, whilst Nuclear Elec + Concert gained 7 miles each. Should we move east ourselves? Well maybe but lets consider a few weather faxes first + monitor the situation. The passing of a front early afternoon gave way to light winds causing further frustration as Tosh, STC, Courtaulds + Pause came into view + proceeded to glide ahead on our inside. They were obviously sailing better angles. We monitored the GPS continually praying for a big header in order to tack in or a good lift to help us slide in towards the corner of Tasmania. The answer to our prayers came at 0630 GMT when in a sudden shift the wind headed us, we tacked + the wind rose increasing to 27 knots in minutes. Within minutes we had genoa down, staysail up, two further tacks as the wind moved all around us. A call for the No 1, turned to No 2 + finally a No 3. The foredeck was strewn with sails as bodies fought to hold them down. Two reefs later + a No 3 flying we were on course + ready for a sailing dual wth Kids. Team Group 4
FROM GROUP 4 So how are we doing? 29 hours into the 4th leg + the fleet's still pretty close. Sticking to our track about 30 miles out from the coast we've managed to move out in front a little and currently lie 2 miles ahead of Toshiba. Global Teamwork + Tosh both headed way out east once we were out of Sydney Heads, whilst the rest of the fleet trucked south with flanker flying. Both GT + Tosh then worked way back into the coast but for GT that doesn't seem to hve paid off. They're currently at the back of the fleet some 36 miles behind. This is untypical of Merv + leaves us puzzling why? The entire fleet seem 2 be moving down the coast at speed. We are now crossing the entrance to the Bass Straits, earlier than originally anticipated. The Southern Ocean dawns...... Team Group 4 Leg 3
Yacht Group4
Yacht Group4
Yacht Group4 Under the sun the tension was building + patience ebbing as retrospective analysis of the GPS plotter showed potentially late gybes + possibly lost miles. Silly mistakes + fumbled deck work increased the charged atmosphere + frayed nerves. Hours of light winds with low waypoint closure gave way to concerns that by the next position schedule we'd have lost out badly. This was the high we'd been expecting but hoping we'd sail on the edge of it. STC, the most northerly yacht in the fleet was already in the midst of a windless patch + the results were shown in a rapid decline in fleet position. Meanwhile Heath continued 2 keep the pressure on us + took a mile during the afternoon, whilst we managed 2 make gains on the rest of the fleet. This was a day we'd rather not repeat but at the end of it, the result was not that bad! Team Group 4
Yacht Group4 Reflecting on the day we try to account for the lost mileage + find a plausible answer to the question. Yes we've had our little hiccups today with spinnakers + once again the wind has been unsettled even dropping off for a short time this afternoon giving us very low waypoint closure 4 a while. But can that b the full picture ? We wait impatiently for the next weather fax to see if this can throw some light on the situation. And whilst we wait the wind backs + pressure increases. A change of sail plan + the fax arrives + well, it looks as though those boats north of us hve been in high presssure 4 a while. A vague sense of relief flows through Group 4 as the wind increases further + we feel the boat change gear + experience the reassuring heel of the yacht once again. Our resolution to recover those miles sets in. This shd b a good nights sailing after all. Team Group 4
Yacht Group4 With only 107 miles to go to Sydney + a huge high pressure over most of us, there is little time to make big gains or take potentially dangerous tactical decisions. Now is it just a matter of 'grunting up' as skipper Mike Golding wld say + out sailing the others by working at it as hard as we know how. In the midst of this calm patch, wth variable light winds, a strong tidal current + boat speed reaching only 4 knots, it is very difficult to keep the mind focused + the concentration levels up. It is even harder 2 accept that every now + again we see the Time To Go on the GPS go above 100 hours. However, this is just the time concentration is most needed + wth the radar monitoring both yachts we assess our progress by that of those in sight, continually calling any point of a mile they may hve lost or gained. The air is highly charged + 4 some strange reason we hve all resorted to moving around on tiptoe + speaking in hushed voices. Perhaps subconsciously we believe they might be able to hear us. Team Group 4
Yacht Group4 By the next position schedule STC had taken the lead, whilst Courtaulds who had been 12th had risen through the ranks to take 2nd place. This was a stunning turnaround in the fleet + now anybody's race. The windless patches had effected us all. The day has continued much as a lottery, with wind filling in late morning. Jostling for positions within 25 miles of the finish line this promises to be a nail biting end for all concerned. Team Group 4
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