Two hundred and thirteen miles 0500 to 0500, 297 miles to the Hydrographers Passage, and all's well on board Crazy Horse. Yesterday was a little lumpy, but Crazy Horse carried us through the confused seas with ease. Winds increased but our sail plan was perfect; during the night we did slip well south of the rhumb line as we stayed high on course to maintain speed and balance in the confused seas and lightening winds. By dawn the wind was more from the east than we had seen it, and with it forecast to go back to south east later in the day now was a perfect time to gybe and make our way back towards the rhumb line - some 13 miles distant to the north. Our prey (Ocean Jasper) was ahead and south - some 19 miles distant and off the radar, and so tactically we chose to sneak in a gybe to break away and try a different tactic rather than simply playing catch up, which wasn't working with both boats sailing similar speeds. Now we are off the radar our decision won't be easy to spot until tomorrow's roll call, or when skippers Jim and Bill chat on the SSB radio tonight. Let's hope the tactic will pay off, and as the wind backs we'll pick up speed and come screaming directly into the waypoint. For now we are sailing down the rhumb line under full main and poled out jib, and it feels good!
Food wise we continue to eat well, a chunky chicken soup made by Matt before we left Port Vila, was well received last night, and today my oatmeal won approval from Bill, although the temptation of eggs and bacon as a late breakfast wasn't resisted! Fresh food stocks diminish as we enjoy the last onboard in preparation for our arrival in Mackay.
Personally this trip has meant so much to me. Yesterday I was reflecting on the last time I'd done any long distance offshore cruising. Over the last twenty years I have done plenty of channel crossings, Caribbean sailing, circumnavigated Britain and cruised the Scottish west coast extensively, but it must be 1992 since I did my last long offshore trip - from Djibouti to Sudan on a boat in the first round the world rally Europa'92. It's ironic that since I started organizing long distance sailing for a living I haven't actually done any! Or perhaps it was a conscious decision as I was always keen to have a separation between my work and my hobby. This trip has changed that and I thank Rosemary, Bill and Matt for the opportunity they have given me to put on my blue water cruising boots again - well not literally of course as it's far too hot, but you understand the metaphor!
So here we are - at sea, in glorious solitude, broken only by our regular daily chats with the other yachts at morning roll call. Today we learnt our closest rival, A Lady, is 7 hours astern, exactly the same as yesterday. We need to pull away and put more time between us if we are to stand a chance of having a better corrected time. The Oyster 56, with it's non standard carbon rig, sails better than her handicap, and so it's a hard one to beat. The good news is that few boats seem to have motored, and according to our net controller today (Graham on Eowyn) the leading six boats all achieved daily runs of more than 200 miles yesterday. Well done to the others! Let's hope the wind stays kind for the yachts towards the rear of the fleet, and they make good passage times to Mackay too.
Today we are in the groove. Tomorrow we'll arrive at the Hydrographers Passage, our safe route through the Great Barrier Reef. As a major shipping channel it's extremely well lit, but we're hoping to at least start it in daylight. In the meantime we have today to relax and enjoy the tranquility of being at sea, each in their own thoughts, reading, making plans or simply enjoying free thinking time, as we surge ever onwards to our destination.
The Crazy Horse Crew
Andrew, Bill and Matt.