Log Day 1- Race Day

Jusdoit5
Sat 1 Dec 2012 18:37
 
Tuesday 27th November 2012
 
Position at 1100hrs  Las Palmas
 
Miles covered 0

We have a great start on the line and get away with the head of the fleet. A couple of hours out decision is made to pole out the headsail - it's blowing 25knots. Then our 1st mishap of the day - the spinnaker pole mast fitting shears - the downhall wasn't let off...THEN, as the headsail is being rolled back out, the toping lift gets fankled with the headsail furler at the top of the mast preventing further use for now. Looks like poor Nathan may be going up the mast earlier than he had hoped! THEN the vang bursts so we are nosw sailing with 2 reefs in the main and less than a third of a headsail, no vang and no pole  - doom and gloom befalls the Jus'do it crew.....In the evening the wind increases steadily before our starboard autohelm fails which result in a couple of involuntary gibes which cause damage to the mainsail track and buckling the starboard binnacle fitting...... a long and laborious night peppered with a few torrential downpours and huge waves which douse us all! Everyone gets soaked to the skin and no food or drink bar some water is consumed for the first 24 hours. By this morning we all need to catch up with some sleep and discuss how to proceed! Not a good day at the office!
Tired and exhausted Jus'do it crew