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FROM HEATH INSURED II
News _ We coming home, see you soon & hopefully this is my last
report. Very exciting racing out here with 6 boats in sight.
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News _ We just keep racing desparetly trying to steal some extra
miles, all helping out with Kite drops, gybes whether we're on watch
or not. Y'day having dropped the flanker for the Promo, that had to
come down as it had tears that needed guick repair & up again.So it's
all go. Also eating up anything sight !
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - Just woken up & looked out, we must be nearing England as it's
wet, cloudy & raining ! Y'day was a day of hard racing with the other
boats in sight & it continues, the med: wt was declared terminal as
the amount of work needed would'nt be finished in time, there we had
the Promo up until the wind increased for the Flanker. At times we
were doing 13 kns, exciting but hard work. We're now back to
headsails.
FROM HEATH INSURED II
No problems
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - This bit seems to get harder, at the moment we are sailing
hard still on a reach most of the time with the genoea up, this must
be the longestest we've ever had it up continuiosly. Ahead & in our
sights we have Ocean Rover & C.I, to say this makes exciting racing
with an incentive is an under statement, ever inch is watched
carefully on the radar & through the 'Bins'. Each watch eants to
know how we doing before they're even awake !
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - We are moving, reaching with the Genoea up & well heeled but
no-ones complaining we're just pleased to be moving & hoping it
continues.Otherwise all is well,big discussions on food now we're on
rationing & the fact only Nigel will arrive back in good shape!
It's becoming colder & we're pleased to tuckinto sleeping bags,
espicially after the night watchs.
FROM HEATH INSURED II TO RHQ BT Rep Heath Insured 11
News -Y'day, another day of frustration as we tried to keep the boat
moving & watched ourselves slip another place, we started to move
again y'day evening but not as fast as we 'd like. We have head sails
up at the moment which we change at intervals!
FROM HEATH INSURED II News - We have just sailed through a terrific thunder storm with a large container ship passsing by, having got through that we were rewarded by a spectualar sun rise. Watching the storm coming on the radar we had kites up, kites down and the promo back up where it's remained. The sewing / stapling circle is progressing well, hopefully the kite will be finished to -day, depends how many gybes are needed as that requires all the watch on deck,therefore interupts work below. Continue to sail hard to try and win back some places also to arrive before the party.
All for now needed back onrepairs or to do sail change.
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - This will be short & sweet ! We are sailing on with the kite
up whilst the repairs continue down below on the galley table to the
med: wt. All good practise for me when I go back to work !
The weather continues with the fog, it did lift briefly Y'day to
reveal the sun but it's back again to-night, leaving those on deck
feeling damp & clamey.
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - We continue to racehard & are delighted to have passed the way
point, next one S'hampton. We were not over joyed this evening to
blew our Med: wt Kite so it's back to the sewing cicle yet again,
just hoping it has'nt cost us our position. The ironicially part is
we put up the flanker this morning but the seas were so confused we
toke it down rather than risk it, so it was in favourable conditions
that the Kite went up again. The weather is horrible this morning
damp , cold fog perhaps to remind us of home !!
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - Gone are the shorts & T-shirts,back to foulies, hats & gloves,
just forgot the umbrellas! A reminder to those whose memories are
short what the S. Ocean was like on a good day. It really has rained
very hard to-day & continues to drizzle. We continue to race hard,
trying to gain miles, remebering how to put reefs in & live at a
heel again. Also the joy of climbing into wet foulies after
clambering out of a warm sleeping bag, still we'e on the move & might
make it for the party !
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - Well the expression A hard day's night springs to mind, y'day
with no wind we really tried to keep the boat sailing & to see
ourselves slowly pass Motorola was very rewarding But despite all our
hard work ot appears that other boats got the wind first. Still we're
on the move with headsails up & back to a heel , almost forgotten
what it was like ! It was a glorious day y'day with sun, smooth sea &
dolpins just what cruises are made off NOT ocean racing !
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News - No wind, that more or less sums it up ! We just continue to try & keep the boat moving which proves difficult at times. Poor Andy was nearly beside himself when he discovered that 3 Comm where in the lead, says he'll never live it down if Carol beats him, still it keeps Andy out of mischief thinking hoe to make the Boat go faster !
FROM HEATH INSURED II
News _ Well it was to good to be true that we were racing along in
sight of Gp 4 all day & now we're sitting here with the red Kite
flapping & going no where fast ! Are you expecting us un July ?
Frustration is the only word left to desribe it. This is not what we
were expecting in the N. Atlantic, at least until we saw the
weather forecasts. Legger report fm Simon Grover & Howard Thomas
Last leg & our last chance for a good result to justify all the hard
work that has been put in by crew & shore team. Having thoroughly
enjoyed the Boston stopover, the lure of home spurs us on. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - well, we're hanging in there to quote our mate, racing hard, this is undoutable helped by the fact we still close to other boats, all watching each others movements. We've quickly settled back into routine & flying kite.the latter has kept us busy, we have'nt had time to find out what we all did or saw in Boston! We seem to be seeing more wild life with lots of birds, dolpins & a shark all in one day ! The weather remains sunny but cool enough to need middle layer so the hopes of wearing shorts to keep the tans up is fading. except for Nigel, who even slept when off watch on deck, we think it.s his extra padding. Really no more news just racing hard, our last chance. FROM HEATH INSURED II Presently sat with all sails down in one mother of a storm.
Wind went from 20 knots to 55 in 2 or three minutes. touches 68 to
70 at times.had full main ,staysail and no2 up at the time reaching
fast down the line.. fight to get that lot down.staysail head
blown off again. repairs to lower half of main ripped open,headboard
car blown off. got y2 down with no damage. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - We've just been through another stormy 24hrs with wind up to
50 kns & HUGE seas, it seems quieter now with the wind at 29 kns.
It's been a hard 24 hrs esepecially for those on the helm, often being
thrown off , regaining their balance just in time.Moving around the
boat you need to hang on at all times so eating meals becomes a work
of art, you really need 3 hands. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Y'day started as a peaceful sail, trucking along until we
shook a reef out of the mainsail only to discover a hole, luckily we
were able to mend it while still sailing.Andy & Anders did a grand
job warmed by a steady supply of soup, they're poor fingers were
frozen. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Another stormy night with winds up to 50 knots & big seas,
very confused so not only was deck work hard & wet but trying to
sleep was awful, we were thrown from side to side, then up & down, I
had my sleeping bag hood & pillow between my head & the end of my
bunk to stop my head banging. Then to top it all one suddenly took
off completely airbourne !!! Thank goodness for the chest straps. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Thought I would write this on morning watch so it's on time, it's
difficult because the days just roll into each other down here & we
forget the time difference. Anyway dare I say we are still sailing
in S. ocean style, choppy seas, winds gusting up to 45 knots during a
sail change during the night, this morning we're beating with Y 3, S/S &
3 reefs in the main, Lot of spray & COLD. I think it's the damp that
gets to people always climbing back into wet, damp drysuits & wet
boots., but the sun is shining this morning so that helps when on
deck, half an hour is enough at time before fingers freeze. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Well, believe or not we have wind S. Ocean & we are trucking
along, leaping about including the keyboard.Andy is sitting beside me
kindly trying to mend the neck seal on my drysuit which split
completely to-day, Mine's the 2nd crew's to go, not what you want to
happen in this weather. Otherwise we're pleased to be on the move again
hopeful catching up a bit. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - I'm speechless to-day, we've run out of wind Again, we just
start to make progress up the fleet & next minute we're back where we
started, I'm running out of words to describe our feelings but ones
emotions are certainly up & down. One thing we're getting well fed
now we're flat, Julia out of boredem cooked apple pie & muffins this
afternoon. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - What can I say we are sitting here in 3.5 knots of wind, it's
raining, the sea has a gently swell & we're going nowhere fast. This
morning we had the spinnaker up & we were bowling along throughly
enjoying our sailing. We 've had a really good clean of the boat,
repairs have been carried out, Martin went up the mast this afternnon
having spent hours repairing the halyard, he's put it back. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - sorry I'm late seem to have got my time span wrong ! We have enjoyed trucking along in the last 24 hrs with calmer seas & less wind. The respite has given us a chance to do repairs, Dave went up the mast & put in new staysail halyard so we're now under full sail again. We've also tidied & began to dry out a bit, other minor repairs are under way including in my case looking at properly & dressing various cuts & burns, all recovering, Mike is up & about on light duties, much more comfortable. So we just continue racing hoping our luck will change. All for now, Rgds Sal nnnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - The last 24 hrs have been busy as the storms & choppy seas
continue, also the loss of our Trysail but we've still continued with
just the head sails, determine to keep racing. We now have the main
back up, the wind has dropped & we are sailing comfortably for a
while, all looking forward to a good of watch sleep. Cooking the
lunch to-day was a performance, nothing wanted to stay in the pan,
hot water for rice, chilli all leaping around , Adrian came to my
rescue by holding the stove so we eventually were able to eat.
Prior to that John Shuff had leant against the seat in
the galley which then came off it's mounting & Shuff shot across the
table, luckily only bruised & shaken.We have had one or two minor
injuries, cuts, burns from boiling water jumping out of kettles , and
Mike fell in the galley & has a painful lower back. But all seem to
be recovering. FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Sorry this is late we have had a stormy time since my last
report with very choppy, unsettled seas which have increased in size.
The wind has gusted up to 45 knots so it's been wet & cold on deck.
We now have storm trysail & headsail up & we still trucking along.
Life below deck is interesting especially when we take off waves !
Cooking takes on a new meaning, whether it stays on the stove & in
the pot long enough to cook !!!Just now trying to make drinks I ended
up with hot choc down one leg, the lid flew off the kettle so hot
water the other side & to top it banged my hip, all for the
Skippper's tea !!! Cape Town definitely beckons. FROM HEATH INSURED II News = First please could you tell Kim we'll keep our boat song as we
can't agree on another !! FROM HEATH INSURED II News - We're on our way again, yesterday the wind suddenly started tofill in so up went the Kite & we 're back in business, we 've beentrucking along ever since, hopefully making in roads into the boatsin front & enjoying the sunshine this afternoon The kite came downlast night & we're now beating to windward in the S. Ocean way we'velearn to love to hate. It's funny to watch the leggers get used tothe constant climb uphill!!. Andy is into cooking scones but decidedthey where small so used double qauntity yesterday only trouble theytook hours to cook !!Let's hope we're now on our way to Cape Town & the wind stays with us Rgds Sal nnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - FRUSTRATION & anger that this is happening again, no wind &we're drifting down the fleet, at this rate we'll be in Cape Town bySept: !! First thing this morning the wind picked up for a while & weactually had a gust off 40 knots but by lunchtime nothing. All we cando is try & keep the boat moving & hope in the next 5,000 miles ourluck changes.Thanks for sending position in the night must have been trasmitting.On the poitive side we've had time to sort the heads which had slightblockage. All for now, Rgds Sal nnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - We continue to sail on hard, slow edging back. The crew whofelt rather worse for wear as we hit the S. Ocean are slowlyrecovering, including yours truly. It's amazing how weak & feeblebeing sick for 48hrs leaves you but no one missed their watch. we'reenjoying bowling along in sunshine this afternoon with theAlbatross's about. The main continion aboard continues to be the messleft by some cooks but they'll learn once they've been sent to clearup a few times ! Otherwise all is happy & content on board apart fromour position but we're working on that.Rgds Sal nnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Short & sweet to-day , we're back in the Southern Ocean, inshort ,sharp choppy seas so not feeling too bright. Sailing wise wehad busy night with the wind increasing so sail changes with alot ofwater coming over the deck.It's also become much colder so time spenton deck is shorter. WE seem tto be slow making our way towards therest of the fleet so we'll just keep Trucking. All for now RgdsSalnnnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Frustration is the only word to discribe last night, to sailinto a hole again & see the rest of the fleet disappearing, aftersuch a good start it's hard to believe it's happened again. We allfelt down last night but now we moving again, spriits are looking up& hopefully we'll work our way back, we've just past T & T. WE'restill enjoying sun but a bit more wind would be welcome, in a few daysI'll probably complain we've had too much !Due to food not arriving in Sydney we're enjoying the change of menuof Alliance food & not missing chicken, we're training the leggersto cook, with sucess but not so good on the clearing up front ! Stillthat goes for some core crew.Well here's hoping for better things, racing on.Rgds Sal nnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - Last night was interesting sitting in a parking lot with 14 yatchs in sight, We had an exciting few minutes with Courtaulds whenthey came charging past in their private breeze when seconds late wefound our wind & took Courtaulds down wind , leaving thembehind. We've had a good days sailing with the Kite up, having otheryatchs around makes the sailing more intense, also enjoying the sun &views of the Tasmania coast. Crew have settled into the usual banter &keeping each other on their toes with speed & figures, the latterboat wise until their get to Cape Town!All for now, making the most of the weather.Rgds Sal nnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - After a choppy night when seasickness returned for some, we'rehaving an exciting day's sailing with several yatchs around. Motarola& Nuc: have just tracked behind us & CU just in front, they are nowsailing alongside! Three more can be seen on our port bow so we'reall pushing hard in lovely sun at the moment. The coast of Tasmania insight soon our next land will be Cape Town. Last night was a reminderof what's to come but hopefully all will have sea legs by then. We'venearly run out of fresh fruit which is supplementing the dried. FirstAlbatross seen to-day.All for now, Rgds Sal nnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News - After such a good start we had a frustrating night with verylittle wind & to find ourselves slipping down the fleet isdisappointing to say the least But there's a long way to go plus thedifferent weather systems. Those who have suffered with sea sicknessseem to be recovering, we had one incident where Shuff dived on deckto be sick only to find the bucket had been moved ! Everyone istaking an interest in meals & as we had problems with food in Sydneythere's no Chunky Chicken - wonderful. All for now, just pushing on.Rgds Sal nnnn FROM HEATH INSURED II News= WE had an exciting start, please to be away cleanly & out ofall the protesting. The emotions of leaving Sydney were mixed, we,dhad a happy time there, it's a wonderful city ,we'd been made verywelcome, so sadness at leaving & the appprension of the SouthernOcean, for most knowing what lies ahead but on the other hand most ofus will never come back here again so to make the most out of it.Last night was busy with about 6hrs of continualy very wet rain,thunder & lightning, other yachts all round us. I've never know suchwet rain, the lightening was spectacular. We're going through thesettling in with the usual seasickness for some but otherwise it'sback to racing mode & on to Cape Town.Hope all well at RHQ.Rgds Sal nnnn Leg 3 Yacht Heath Insured II We are very pleased with the start, it gave us a really good feelingto be first round the first three marks. Due to the fact we had blownour kite the day before in training & had been up half the night withthe help of Hoods mending it, we were slightly slower to fly it,caution prevailed. But once we put it up we were able to catch up &overtake Nuclear Electric & Save the Children taking the lead again.We've managing to hold the lead & it's great. The start was greatwith all the spectator boats & helicopters, a wonderful way to end towhat has been a brilliant stopover, we were made so very welcome.All for now, racing on in what as predicted would be a close leg,Rgds Sal nnnnn Yacht Heath Insured II Still feeling great that we,re managing to hold the lead althoughit,s a tough race with all boats pushing hard, we keep looking overour shoulder but it makes a wonderful change from being at the back.With a great start we seem to have settled back into routine athoughthere has been some seasickness and quesy tums, too much good livingin N.Z was AD's comment but all have kept going. We've had thedolphins and seals with us plus Albie is back.All for now Rgds Sal nnnn Yacht Heath Insured II A little disappointed that Group 4 has managed to pull ahead but wecontinue to sail hard & there's a few miles to go yet! Otherwisewe've settled into racing mode, enjoying the fresh food & fruitsupplemented with dried & packets. This leg is really exciting asapart from battling to keep in front we can now see Toshiba &Nucluear Electric behind so it really keeps us going. Moral is high &we've quickley settled into the watch system again.Allfor now, it's the football results Mike needs Thanks.Rgds Sal nnnn Yacht Heath Insured II
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