FASTNET RACE

Britishsoldier
Tue 16 Aug 2011 17:22
Position 51deg23 N, 009deg23W - 8miles due E of the Fastnet Rock

Only a brief report before we leave Irish mobile reception. Expecting to round the rock in about an hour and a half. We're in catch-up mode....played it safe and went offshore at Portland, we suspect the class leaders made it inside the race and then benefited from the wind lifting shortly after the Bill.

We seemed to be in a bunch heading down the Channel and as far as Lands End, before bomb-bursting across the Irish Sea into 25knots and big seas. We headed about 8 degrees to the right of the rhumb line since the router suggested a big shift as we closed the rock from south of west to northerly. It hasn't happened and so we're beating into the rock when others may have fetched it. Grrrr. Probably lying about 1/3 the way down the list of the 71 in class. Work to do!!

Extraordinary news of Rambler's capsize, the Fastnet record being broken and the other boats that have retired. Fingers crossed we'll be into Plymouth by Thursday evening. All well on board.

:-)

Fastnet Race tracker: http://fastnet.rorc.org

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