Transpac 2017 - Day 1 update from SiFi onboard Phaedo^3
by Rachel Fallon-Langdon on 8 Jul 2017
Phaedo^3 - Day 1 - Transpac 2017 Phaedo Racing
We are now settled into some fast downwind sailing, cruising along at 26 knots, Gennaker up and all enjoying the sailing.
After a good start and some close racing out to Catalina we had a bumpy first night with reaching conditions in up to 25 knots of wind. As we left Catalina in our wake we were slightly held up by a hydraulic issue but after some good work from Fletch and Sam we were all patched up before the breeze had built. The wind came in pretty quick and we were soon getting thrown around as we heading out into the stronger NW breeze. I think in a normal boat it would have been very pleasant but being shaken around in the middle of three hulls had a couple of us (myself included) seeing their lunch again! However I have more than made up for that with a breakfast of Mexican chicken and Pringles so I really cannot complain.
We were missing our multihull guru a little last night and took a slightly more conservative approach to things initially but are now pushing hard with everyone having settled into the routine and the conditions. We have connected up with the trade winds and are happy to be matching Mighty Merloe in terms of pace and are hopeful that at some point perhaps we can start to reel her in a bit. Maserati has been impressive so far with her foils, maybe the lighter winds we should encounter a little further down the track might give us some opportunities to cut her lead also. On board we are in good spirits and looking forward to the challenge!
In another six hours or so the gybing in the trade winds will begin and some tactical opportunities should present themselves. We will need to make the most of them but then this of course is all part of the fun.
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