16:53.88N
48:02.72W
Friday 2nd December – 0730 GMT; 0530 ship’s time
Just a quick note to say that:
1.
We cracked over 200 NM in the last 24 hours. That’s a well known sailing benchmark
(from the tea clipper days) and this is the first time anyone aboard has managed
it. We knew we’d done it by 1900
ship’s time yesterday (2000 GMT) because Chris had been tracking it on his
GPS. He made it 205 NM from 1900 to
1900. The 0400 GMT ARC fleet e-mail
position report yesterday showed that we were 997.38 NM from St Lucia. This morning’s 0400 GMT report shows us
having 795.24 NM to go. So, a little over 202 NM completed in that 24
hours.
2.
As at 0400 GMT this morning we’d reduced Cochise’s
lead from 18 NM yesterday (and 25 NM the day before) to 14 NM. That’s kinda
positive.
3.
Having now crossed the 45ºW
meridian we’ve put ship’s time back a further hour to two hours behind
GMT.
4.
The weather just east of St Lucia looks
set to present the fleet with a number of challenges. There is very little wind. So, heading straight for
St
Lucia is probably not the right answer. A little guile will be necessary.
