VOR Boatmail - Leg 2, Day 8- Pirates, movistar, ING, ABN2, Brasil1

by Various on-board sea-scribes on 10 Jan 2006 From: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN LEG TWO DAY 8
Sent: 9 January 2006
To: DUTY OFFICER Sent: 09 January 2006 18:14
Pirate Report January 9, 2006

Position: 39,14.15S , 59,24.9E
Speed: 7 knots, Course: 32 deg.

We hit the wall. We have hit light air and are watching the others sail up to us. We are still being tormented by the old cold front that we fell off the back of about 48 hours ago. This is the same front that ABN1 managed to stay on due to their 30 mile lead on us at the time. That 30 miles lead has since turned into 300 miles as they rode the front.

We had southerly winds during the day today and had nice distance runs only changing sails twice and keeping the boat moving fast. We stretched our lead on Movistar and ABN2. Now, as the three of us approach the remnants of the disintegrating cold front, we have slowed first. The routing software has been telling us for two days that we are going to be able to penetrate the front and get the north westerlies on the other side. However, none of these predictions has panned out so far.

We just have to keep trying to sail north-northeast and work our way to the north-westerlies. My guess is that this won't happen and we will just sit here until some new wind fills.

This would not be so bad except that the new wind that is coming from behind. So this will pick up Movistar and bring them up to us and ABN2.

This will make it a three boat scramble for the points at the scoring gate when 12 hours ago we were feeling pretty comfortable in second place. As frustrating as it is, I suppose it could be worse.

There is a very confused sea out here from the southerly that we sailed in for the past 30 hours and the strong northwest winds that have been here for the past few days. This makes for tough sailing in only 5 knots of wind and of course it is now dark too.

Other than that life is pretty good out here. It has rained again most of the day as we are stuck in this front. The water temperature is quite warm a 18.6 so the air temperature is very mild. These ice waypoints that we have to honor are keeping us safe but it has changed this leg pretty significantly. This leg 2 used to be one of the defining legs of the Round the World Race. We have been out here a week and haven't gotten our gloves on yet.

I washed my hair today in a rain squall. That felt pretty nice. I used too much dish soap though so I will be dripping bubbles for a while. Beef stew is on the menu tonight. That is basically filet mingnon with hollandaise sauce. Then to wash it down, we will have a little desalinated Cabernet.

We just spotted a light in the mast ahead. It is either ABN2 that has now passed us or a fishing boat or a real Pirate ship. Not sure yet. We will let you know.

END

Paul Cayard
Pirates of the Caribbean


I remember this place.....it’s the place where wounds DO NOT heal !

Every scrape and abrasion just becomes a soggy sore, that doesn't heal ‘coz it’s soaking wet most of the time, and generally is tender as hell !! Every sail change opens and new flesh starts to swell up and start oozing whatever that fluid is ! Fresh cuts on old ones.

Yep...I remember this place.

JC (Justin Clougher)
Pirates of the Caribbean


From: ING REAL ESTATE BRUNEL LEG TWO DAY 8
Sent: 9 January 2006
To: DUTY OFFICER
Position 42.02s 51.16e

Whether the weather will be wonderful or whether the weather will be worrying????

Here on Team ING/Brunel we have been having a very tough couple of days with the wind gods.

Our grib files (which is computer data sent to us every 6 hours from race HQ with encoded weather forecast information attached) don’t seem to agree with what we are getting out here in the real world. It is usually a question of is the grib running a little earlier or later than reality, but in our case recently it has been will we get any wind at all and if so where from???

We have positioned ourselves in anticipation of changes to come but they do not come, anyway nobody said yacht racing was easy!!

Tomorrow on the other hand will be a new story again. Will we cross over from the current S/E wind of 10-15kn into n/w 30-45 like the grib says? Or will it be a more moderate 25-35 as some weather models show. Either way they all seem to agree that we will see wind from the n/w, and, as we wish to head east, it should be a very fast few days to come with hopefully record breaking not boat breaking conditions.

We have tidied up the boat, and put a few extra safety attachments on deck to hopefully avoid possible breakdowns and we wait with baited breath to see what we will have served up!!

Speaking of serving up we have just eaten a fabulous 'Mountain House' freeze dried meal of beef lasagne, see is not all bad out here!!

Signing off

Grant Wharington
Skipper Team ING/Brunel.

From: ABN AMRO TWO LEG TWO DAY 8
Sent: 9 January 2006
To: DUTY OFFICER
Received via Sat C
Subject: Crew Log 09/01/05

Hi There,

I guess today can be described as more of the same as we continue to chase this cold front that has let ABN AMRO ONE escape and left the rest of the fleet battling along behind it. There is however, I'm rather pleased to say; a little light at the end of the tunnel today. Not that you would be able to tell by looking outside as the grey skyscape continues unaltered! It has stop raining though which has definitely improved the mood on board slightly - everyone is a little more chirpy when the prospect of going on deck doesn't mean a thorough drenching before the first wave has even come over the deck.

The winds have started to get a little lighter and are slowly starting to shift hinting that change is afoot. It now is a case of waiting patiently for it all to happen which is definitely the bit I find hardest! With the wind oscillating back and forth we are constantly being teased about the winds changing to the more favourable north westerlies that we are so eager to get back in. I am now taking a little comfort in the fact that the weather models are finally starting to reflect what is happening outside though.

It been an interesting few days working out what has been going on with the weather as the grib files have consistently been out of whack and we have had to rely on what has been going on deck and what the other boats have been up to, to slowly piece back together the real picture to create a plausible forecast and optimum route - A bit like a game of battleships as you find out the real picture bit by bit enabling you to make the next move.

Our game of battleships with the Pirates continues also, every six hours at the position report there is a subtle adjustment to our course in the hope that we can reel them in a just that little bit closer...

Cheers for now,

Si Fi Simon Fisher - navigator

ABN AMRO TWO

From: BRASIL1 LEG TWO DAY 8
Sent: 9 January 2006
Received via Sat C
Subject: Daily Report from Brasil 1, Jan 9th
Last Daily Report from the dock in Africa!

Boatspeed 0 knots still, on Brasil1, but not for long! We are ready packed now and will leave early tomorrow morning, to join the race again.

Our shore crew has done an amazing job here in Port Elisabeth. When we arrived, the containers were already in place, and since then it has been an ongoing boatbuilding mission day and night to be ready. The boat is repaired and even stronger than ever before, so we should be OK and at least a bit more confident diving south again.

We obviously had to shop a bit more food, and even had the unusual pleasure of having some laundry done, during a southern ocean leg!

We have met some new friends here on the fishing dock. Chuny (Roberto Bermudez) managed to trade a Brasil1 cap for a large calamares, and Marcello (Ferreira) managed to get our routine BBQ sorted out at the local sailing club. The sailing cl