Saves Our Seas Ocean Racing - Day 3

by SOS Media on 7 May 2010 Life onboard SOS Ocean Racing has, to put it in the words of Jessica Watson, 'Become a little interesting.'

It is day three into Ian Thomson's solo sailing world record attempt. Save Our Seas Ocean Racing departed Airlie Beach on the fifth of May at 1030 in an effort to break the world record for sailing non-stop solo around Australia.

Ian's mission is about raising awareness of what the damage plastic bags do to our environment. He aims is to raise an understanding in everyday Australian to think before they use plastic bags, to reduce the usage if they can; and if they can't, to reuse and eventually recycle them.

He reported in this morning at 0810 with the following 'It is the morning of the third day and it was an entertaining evening to say the least. I had a few visitors last night in the form of sea birds, not up to sped on what type they are but 5 of them flying around and 2 landed. One of them on the stern of the boat. I then decided to jibe and rather than take off he headed straight downstairs into the cabin, proceeded to throw up the days catch of fish all over the place and now the cabin stinks of fish. After the sea bird adventures I was settling back in and right on the stroke of midnight, a crash jibe. I have been running so square and the autopilot got it wrong. Way over on the side and it took about 30 minutes to clean up. Not that anything went anywhere except the battery box which I have now secured better. Just ropes in the cockpit etc.

Then I decided that once the wind hit 28 knots it was time to put a reef in the main. This is a tiring job and it takes a while and after the jibe, it meant a fair workout for one evening. Went without hitch though and now I am cruising under first reef main only in 4m seas and surfing consistently. I think I am averaging about 10 knots this morning. The tracker states I have now averages 8.7 knots so I picked that up 0.2 knots overnight. Can't imagine keeping up this speed for the rest of the journey but an eta of June 6th would be unbelievable. That is what the tracker is predicting at present.

A few drops of water found their way into the boat last night as well. I had my bean bag set up next to the companionway where a nice breeze was coming in and at one stage got a nice shower so a few wet pillows to dry out today. Other than that I slept really well, I am sleeping so well considering the conditions but the boat is loving it.

Good news is that I am 200nm from the entrance to the reef. The sailing has been smooth now that I am under first reef and will take it easy today as the sailing tomorrow to get through the reef will need me on my game. I am entering at Raine Island and will wind my way back to the main shipping channel to go around Wednesday Island which is a mark of the official World Sailing Speed Record course.

So breakfast this morning is nutri-grain and fresh milk. Hopefully I can keep it in the bowl, it is a little rocky'.

You can track Ian's progress on his website through the OceanTracker.net system and there will also be live streaming video footage from approximately 0930 EST through to 1030 EST.
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