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South Atlantic Record

This is why we do it ! for Maiden

dimanche 14 avril 2002 –

It’s now midday at the start of the fourth day and we are charging along in near perfect conditions. For the first time since the start we have not had to do a sail change for our entire watch. The numbers have been consistently high and on course.


’Games on and it’s all to play for’ announced Brian Thompson with a big grin across his face. You work hard on these boats dreaming of these conditions. The sailing is fast, dry and easy and we are all dressing for the beach. The sails all stacked aft and to windward make for a comfortable bench seat from which to trim from. You still must not get complacent. The helmsman, whoops, helmsperson, is the one doing all the work but is reluctant to hand over the hotseat. Guillemo Attadil in his helm change briefing to Helena Darvelid whilst steaming along at 26 knots simply said ’perfect’ and walked below. We laughed at how cool this exchange was but soon realised he had summed it up beautifully.

Mind you, it goes against my policy of saying few words when many will do ! The night was not without incident as the new breeze filled in a highly loaded block controlling the gennaker sheet exploded whilst Fraser Brown was down to leeward checking trim. Fortunately we had a safety sheet rigged which saved the gennaker from a flogging, Frasers head from a one throw game of frisbee and allowed us to get back on the gas in short time. ’Ping’ the blocks dismembered parts were later found spread all over the boat. We took advantage of the new headed breeze to sail lower on the course into the SW as this we hope will pay dividends later in the lighter winds expected for the upcoming night. The breeze has since moved aft and as a result we are quickly getting back to the required average for a successful attempt. We are currently sailing in20 knots of NE wind which may lighten and go further into the E/NE at about 10 to 15 knots. We are sailing in traditional tradewind conditions taking the old fashioned southern route around the bottom of the high pressure system.

Signing off Paul Larsen helped by Fraser and Adrienne.

Thought of the day ; ’Home is where the food is’
– SOG 20-22kts
– COG 260T
– TWS 20kts
– TWD 030T
– TWA 130

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