Leg 5 - Race 7 - Day 4
Woke at 8am it's getting easier sleeping on the boat.
Haven't been able to eat much the last few days so made a coffee and cereal.
Sunny outside and still in first place.
Had a good watch trimming and making the boat go faster just as I was due to go off watch we prepared for a spinnaker to go up as the winds were changing. Also noticed on the horizon Garmin GB and Derry we need to keep an eye on the wind and trimming to make sure we stay ahead.
Came off watch to cook dinner. Cottage pie but with freeze dried meat and smash not quiet the same as at home!
Really miss decent food so eating lots of apples and oranges whilst we have them. Bit difficult cooking whilst the boat is on an angle especially putting the potato on top off the meat ! Made it a bit more exciting by putting parmasam and Parikia on top. Had to cook for 17 and everyone loved it. One of the round the world crew Jimmy said it was his best meal ever!! (Well whilst on boat )
The other boats were gaining on us for a while but they had a better wind angle. We were thinking about putting a spinnaker up so got it ready on deck. Off to bed at 7 - 11pm it's so hot but luckily we have the generator on so can have fans going.
I write this as I lay in my bunk and tonight it's like being gently rocked to sleep. Not like last night where I was struggling to stay in my bunk as we were heeled over so much! Must have fallen asleep about 9 then got woken at 10.30 to go on watch for 11pm. Felt tired so had a black coffee and muslie bar.
Got dressed up in foulies and jacket went up on deck and couldn't believe how hot it was so had to come down below to return in shorts and t shirt,with life jacket of course!
Was shocked to see the 3 boats who had been following us were much closer and now on our port side. We dropped out headsails ( the Yankee and staysail ) and put up our code 2 spinnaker. ( you have code 1 which is the biggest, code 2 medium and code 3 the smallest )
We soon gained speed and caught up with Garmin then overtook them. It was an amazing shift, bright nearly full moon lots of stars still night with a warm breeze. Just the sound of the sea so calm and magical.
Came off shift at 3am didn't really feel that tired as the last shift had been so exciting watching where the other boats were and still being first. We can now see lmax behind us on our starboard size. There was a bit of discussion of out heading and weather we should stay with the pack or head up more. We are heading up more. Fingers crossed its the right one X really want to win a race but it's another 26 days to go
One thing I brought with me was an eye mask which I got off the aeroplane which is really useful for wearing when sleeping as lots going on around you. Also nice listening to music with my head phones on
Miles covered 199 : 9.3-11.5 speed