We have been match racing Australia now for several days and yesterday
as they got stuck under a cloud and we lost our sights on them (and
they on us) we finally had our long awaited window of opportunity. We
managed to get our boat speed up and changed course slightly to the West
and away we were. The gap is now comfortably big but we have to stay
vigilant.
The winds have been a big pain in the butt. Where we would like to have
more breeze there is less and where we would like to see less there is
more! I find it a real challenge to plot strategies and I am very
pleased to take part in it. It is an absolute brain cracker however at
the moment as there seem to be no good options only "not the worst"
ones. We finally cracked a nut this night and decided to do something
radical. As we were executing the plan the wind changed and the whole
plan stranded. Having the kite up however is still the best option and
maybe the wind will now change to our favour so we can make the move we
intended in the first place. I did not expect to put a kite up this race
but, this is how messed up the wind situation is in the South China Sea.
Having a few sleeping problems as a result of all the hard thinking :-)
Three booby's (sea birds) kept us entertained today as they skirted our
bow and ducked in low to pick up some flying fish. Birds are a sign of
nearby land and shallows. Sitting in the nav station most of the watch
does have a benefit: I love maps and finding weird places on earth. Just
found a group of islands East of us: the Paracel Islands. Ever heard of
them? A few perfect atoll shaped reefs with some bits sticking out above
the water. We are slowly leaving them behind us.
