Things are hotting up........

Fair Do's VII, Atlantic 2008....
Professor John Shepherd
Sun 30 Nov 2008 07:15
Hi All,
 
Just a brief update from the world of Fair Do's at 0646 on Sunday 30th November 2008, truly in the mid atlantic (1692 miles from St Lucia, 900 miles from Africa).
 
Very hard night last night, really, really dark, difficult wave angle, very disorientating to helm - I have had a couple of spin outs where you get dizzy, feel the boat is spinning round into the breeze and can't ratify with your heading - this means you start big overcorrections on the helm and make the whole thing worse. Matt H has been great and bailed me out of the sh*te on a number of occasions mid spin out.
 
Somewhat, annoyingly this darkness now lasts for 13 hours, darker than I have ever seen, with no dusk. This means you pretty much wish away your night watch to just try and get through sailing the boat as fast as you can on a safer angle. Luckily ours last night was punctuated by peeling from A2 to A5 when it got windy and back to A2 later - this makes it go faster.
 
Firstly, some sad news. One of the boats we have been following very closely in contention way up North, Geisha, as we viewed to be in contention has been dismasted and is limping back to the Azores. Unfortunate, but their Northerly route was always going to put them in the way of some pretty bad weather. We sent them an e-mail wishing them well and hoping they get back OK.
 
Down our end of the course, which is over 700 nautical miles South as the crow flies, we are right in the middle of a drag race to the finish, with a number of boats very much in contention. The slight complication being a low pressure which is set to pass over most of the course and give a prolonged period of light, and on occasions upwind breeze, which will also disrupt the trades. As it stands we are trying to skirt this banf of light airs as best we can, crossing at the shortest distance, of light airs, and maintain breeze from behind. Again this is extra distance which we would rather not sail but seems the safest, and quickest option.
 
As we see it, though your view of the AC tracker probably gives you the best view we are in the middle of a bunch of 6 boats spread North to South, from us over a vertical distance of about 250 miles. Many of the boats are much closer, and we passed one who had snuck ahead during the night, within about a mile of them - suspect Desna.....
 
This bunch includes: Desna, Nisida, Incisor, Big Spirit, P42 (leading on handicap we suspect), Nova One, Stormvogel - in the main the handicaps even out where everybody is at(ish) but we certainly have a lot to do to beat them. North in the course Silandra, and optim'x are well in, and technically closer to finish, but we think they will get some punishment (both very light and strong breeze on the nose) and a prolonged period of little wind.
 
In a nutshell right now is key, and we need a good Assymetric Gybe Angle on the long gybe to St Lucia to give us the best chances.
 
On a personal level we are devastated at the apparent Abysmal failure at Twickenham once more, against the Kiwi's - though it has been a source of some merriment for Hugh who was happy with the Welsh scoreline! He even dressed in Welsh national costume late afternoon to celebrate.
 
This was after the first real shower and wash for two of the watches, red and green, having gone a week without a proper scrubbing. Blue prioritised sleep and as a result are now rumoured to be highly offensive on the nose.....
 
Detected first stowaways yesterday - maggots. Some of the boil in the bag food had been split, two bags, and rapidly gone off which necessitated removing all food from outer packets and washing in salt water as well as some disinfection down below in boxes - not ideal. 
 
 
Spirits remain high, ridicule of each othr, has reached an all time low and offshore turrets (potty mouth) has afflicted many of the crew - it may be connected to grime?!
 
Still dark now, sun not coming up until 0816 now we are further South and West, and the moonrises at 1035(AM!?) which leads to significant confusion, and disorientation.
 
There maybe a further beard update later if time allows......
 
Hope all well at home - Box saying 8 days to the finish (though we feel it is a little optimistic!)
 
Still awaiting the news on the Shepherd clan addition, we're rooting for you Katie!
 
Regards,