Hit 31 knots boat speed!

by Assa Abloy on 3 Feb 2002 When we had Tyco just ahead, we had to drop the main to replace a broken
batten, which was one of the reasons we lost on that [last] sked [position
report]. Also had to do bald headed [no sails up at the front of the
boat] change to A 7 [asymmetrical] from A 6. We just hit 31 [knots boat
speed] on the speedo! Averaging close to 19 for several hours.

Everyone pretty wiped after all the sail changes and hard sailing, not to
mention ice watch!

Too many sail changes…


Pretty hairball sailing here! It is 0500 Zulu and it has been a hectic
day. We went from the R3 [reaching headsail] to the R2 [bigger reaching
headsail] then to the A9 [asymmetrical spinnaker] followed by the A6
[bigger asymmetrical]. Just as we had the A6 up, the wind picked up to
more than 30 knots unexpectedly.

Chuny [Roberto Bermudez de Castro] is doing some great driving and we are
fast, but it is definitely on the edge with this big headsail. I am
tracking Tyco on our radar of our starboard bow at only 4 miles. Let’s see
if we can grind her in.

The wind is from 230 degrees now gusting up to 37 [knots]. We expect a
front to pass us soon. The barometer is dropping quickly after that
[front] the wind should go back left and become lighter. I hope we keep it
together until then. Otherwise we will have to peel to the A7.