Day 1 Start
Disclaimer: The following log entries have been written completely at the discretion of the author, and may contain few facts.
On leaving we could hear the fanfare of jubulent Gran Canarians celebrating in the main marina, glad that the ARC crew were leaving, and that they would finally get their supermarkets to themselves. Sadly the Vela Latina was a quiet marina, broken only by one crew breaking out into somber verse.
We had our own start, only thirty something boats on the line, but still busy with the rest of the fleet coming to watch. We thought we had a cracking start, sailing straight over Phaedo with a cheer. Our smile was wiped off our faces as she hoisted her asymmetric, and sailed between two cats as if we were standing still...
A building breeze in the afternoon showed that this big cat can actually lift her skirt and we boasted impressive pace, maxing out at 14 kts with a small kite, and full main in 27 kts of breeze (sadly the manufacturers sail setting guidelines got wet, and we weren't able to read it...) however the night proved different, with 7-9kts breeze, and a sadly much reduced speed (a figure I regret I am much too embarrassed to print).
The morning brought our first two breakages, the preventer block (not due to any hard core sailing, simply the wallowing of the main in light winds), and a hatch catch, ripped off when we launched our massive downwind kite shortly after first light.
Our 1st position report is not impressive; I currently suspect the ridiculously large lure that we have been dragging for the last 20 hours....
Paul McMorris
Skipper