29 Dec 2024

TinTin 

A very different start from the last St Helena race. This time we barely drifted across the start line in very light upwind conditions. At least it gave us an opportunity to get a close up look at a Sunfish basking on the surface. Before Robben Island the wind began to free and we soon hoisted the staysail. Next we changed from staysail and jib to S2 spinnaker. Soon lost sight of Magic Dragon of Dart and Mwera and by evening One Eighty Magnus and Umoya disappeared over the horizon.  We overtook Fryd during the afternoon. Overnight Atalanta and Flica made gains as the wind again headed us and by the first dawn of the race we were alone on the ocean, except for the occasional ship. We are currently sailing slowly upwind in light breeze and sunshine. A few albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters and skuas have been seen, as well as some dolphins.

Magic Dragon

It was a slow start for our big, old, heavy girl in 4 knots of true wind as we watched the rest of the fleet fly off with their light wind sails. The Skipper didn’t realise that Magic Dragon could move at all in those conditions!However, she’s still in the race and we had the added bonus of penguins, dolphins and numerous seals seeing us off as well as all of the wonderful supporter boats. We’ve had to up our game a bit from our usual passage stupor and do quite a bit of trimming and even tacked a few times in these lighter winds. Not sure about this racing malarkey – a bit like hard work if you ask me. Everyone is feeling better than they were yesterday with only Peter (aged 7) having succumbed so far.  We have lovely, sunny flat seas at present with 10 knots of true wind from the North North West.  Quote of the day: “I’m not cold, my skin is just overreacting” (Dorothy, aged 12 as she sits in the cockpit covered in goose bumps). All the best to everyone at the Royal Cape and all the racers!

Rod, Jane, Dorothy, Peter & Vera

Flica

We had a great first day, lovely conditions. We hoisted our A3 an hour after the start and only dropped it at 4am this morning. Currently fetching in bumpy pre frontal seas. Great first dinner of butter chicken and rice. The sea has warmed up already, and very pleasant on deck last night. Looking forward to the trade winds and some proper downwind sailing.

Mwera

Things going super well and we are in high spirits.   The boat is beautifully untidy which is keeping us busy. 

Atalanta

This beating to weather was not in the brochure haha

One Eighty Magnus

Spirit on board amongst the crew is great and all going well. Fair winds to one and all.

Fryd

The fairly light weather conditions mean that all the light racing boats have a clear advantage of our 10+ ton heavy boat and we are slightly struggling to keep up with the very much “weight optimized” rest of the South African fleet. However this morning’s highlight was receiving a VHF call from Gerry Hegie on Atalanta and learning that they were behind us… Judging from the COG Gerry was holding it looked like he was on his way to Rio…, so maybe someone should tell him that the race is to St. Helena.

Umoya

After an almost stationary start, upon which we dropped a winch handle in the water, the SW picked up beautifully for a lovely day 1 NW sail at around 8-10 kn.  Unfortunately, just before sundown last night we realised we were taking in water, which started at around 20 litres an hour.  We gave up troubleshooting it in the dark and resigned to pumping out a few buckets every 30 mins or so through the night. Besides the unnerving feeling of slowly sinking, we had a beautiful night of sailing under the most brilliant stars, further amplified by the new moon.  By morning we were taking in more like 60-100 litres an hour and were starting to swim down below!   And so the second wave of troubleshooting began.  We initially thought it was the outlet seacock leaking under the newly installed water maker.  However, we eventually discovered a newly installed seacock for the bilge at the stern was pouring water into the boat.  So gratefully with little wind, mostly going the wrong direction, our boat is finally dry and now we’re sailing out of the hole West again 🙂

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