Cape Breton Island Crew Diary - Carol Reed

by Carol Reed on 11 Dec 2009 Cape Breton Island's youngest crew member, 19 year old Luke Dampier, stunned fellow crew mates not to mention skipper Jan Ridd last night as he raced the 'big blue canoe' on the very edge of its performance envelope under spinnaker.

Round the worlder Luke was reaching under a heavyweight kite in heavy wind. With gusts up to 40 knots, he managed to hold the boat on the edge of being overpowered and broaching for three hours, a job that requires high levels of concentration and skill. The results were some impressive boat speeds and a lot of miles under the keel. Reaching under spinnaker in these conditions is potentially a recipe for a serious wipe out or a broach, when the spinnaker lies flat in the water and the boat goes over to 55/70 degrees or almost lying flat in the water). 'For this to occur in the middle of the ocean can have a detrimental effect on people's nerves', says crew member Gerry “Tea Bags” Vandergrift with a wry smile. 'That means there has to be superb communication between the spinnaker trimmer and the helm'.

After the disappointment earlier in the week Cape Breton Island lost both the lead position in the fleet and more significantly the chance of three points through the scoring gate due to a freak wind hole just 70 miles from the gate, Thursday night's wheel of fire came as a much needed boost. The resulting charge down of the fleet thanks to Luke's masterful helming combined with a crew focus on deck made for an adrenalin-charged evening under grey threatening skies. From a drop back to sixth place, Cape Breton Island climbed back up the leader board to fourth overnight. With 2500 miles still to go, about half way to the finish in Geraldton in Western Australia, and the front pack within 100 miles of each other, there is still all to play for.

Watching the dynamic on deck, it made captivating viewing. 'A little puff coming', called Gerry of Toronto as he rode shotgun on the helm advising when wind gusts were coming. Watching for 'cat's paws' or the incoming wind gusts is critical for maintaining the integrity and stability of the boat. They typically appear as an additional disturbance on the water surface (that is outside the norm for the wind conditions). The water usually looks darker and little wavelets appear within 50 metres of the boat. For projections two to three minutes ahead, you look for additional white caps on the water and 20 minutes ahead wind lines on the horizon.

The concentration on Luke's face was frequently punctuated by a wide-eyed grin. 'I'll hold this baby' he cried as Gerry responded with: 'Another big one coming'. Jan was glued to the wind indicator in the navigation station watching closely for any variance in Luke's helming and course. 'Bear away!' he yelled as Luke pushed the limits further. 'I'm doing 130 degrees Jan', cried out Luke, confirming he was in control and fully aware that he was pushing the limit of the boat on that course. Jan said to me: 'I only need 130 to 140 degrees. Tell him he's just showing off!' 'Another gust coming', barks Gerry. All eyes were fixated on the swells of the white-tipped dark grey unforgiving waters of the Southern Ocean. Overhead, there was what appeared to be a build up of storm clouds promising more 'weather helm'. Simon Maynard guarded the mainsheet ready to depower the mainsail in the event of a broach. Adrian Healy held the sheet with 23 year-old Michael Pinches, an aspiring single-handed yachtsman from Wales, in readiness as both exchanged every 30 minutes due to the extreme pressures on the control sheets (ropes) holding the fully-ballooned heavy air spinnaker. If called upon to urgently reduce the pressures on the kite, they would quickly either ease or, in the worst case, drop the spinnaker at a moment's notice as the helm is overpowered by the sail. Glasgow-born Jim Webster and Canadian Shannon Gallins minded the grinder ready to bring the kite back in and re-pressurise it.

Describing the scene and mood, Gerry said: 'For people who were experienced, this was exhilarating but also there was a feeling of impending doom if somebody doesn't do their job right. For those not necessarily aware of the real implications I'm sure when they heard people yelling 'dump it' they must have been feeling a tinge of fear.”

Luke knew full well the responsibility he had in the palms of his hands. With 17 lives onboard, it wasn't a game and we were in the middle of the Southern Ocean, the most treacherous of seas, and that made the atmosphere on the boat all the more charged if a little surreal. Already a couple of the other Clipper boats had experienced near catastrophes due to the tricky nature of flying spinnakers in such conditions. Qingdao was hit by a squall which combined a 20 knot increase in wind speed and 80 degree change in wind direction and eventually they wrapped their kite. For Jamaica Lightning Bolt, a gust caused a massive broach and the boat was laid over on her side under the pressure of the sails. The helm could not respond as the rudder was out of the water and the crew, though safe, spent the next few days repairing rips to their spinnaker, they also reported a snapped spinnaker pole.

Back on Cape Breton Island, Jan waited to see how much longer Luke could hold on. We were flying but he knew that his magical helming would not be replicated despite some very experienced hands on the boat. The wind was also due to change. Jan finally came on to feel the helm and it was clear that the wind was now changing direction making holding the course and keeping the kite flying an impossibility. The decision made, you could feel everyone's muscles relax as the crew prepared to re-hoist white sails for the rest of the night.

Coming back down below and grabbing a glass of water, Luke wondered what all the fuss was about. 'Every now and then there was a gust', he said matter-of-factly. 'Either I had to bear away or get the trimmers to ease the sheet'.

Not all 'ice man', our 'Cool hand Luke' added: 'Trust me, my heart was racing!'

Jan had nothing but praise for our 'superstar, known as 'Skywalker' to fellow crew.' This boy has got a very bright future ahead of him. He's got some of the best natural helming skills I have ever seen in my life.

Cape Breton Island standing by.