Transpac Daily logs 6-9

Dear all,


Late yesterday afternoon we celebrated the mid-way point with a party and the best wine-in-a-bag money can buy! Lots of junk food and kidding going on. If we can figure how to get the Apple iPhone to speak to the Windows laptop, we'd love to share some of our fun pictures.

Through much of the days and nights in the race it has been overcast, but lovely temperatures and sailing. The astonishing sunrise this morning was an harbinger of great things to come! The day is mostly sunny and warm in 17-knot and higher breezes from about 060 magnetic. Since we jibed early this morning to port, we are now about 135-nm to the South of the Westerly track we sailed so long. The day fits the definition of a Transpac sailing in stunning deep blue ocean waters under strong sun and breeze. The boat is again lit up leaving us wanting more.

After more than 1,000-nm of sailing our brand new A2 spinnaker blew up during a jib in only about 15-knots of breeze. This was unexpected and forced us into our A4, which is of similar shape but designed for a higher top end of wind speed. Losing the A2 was a great disappointment, but the A4 is now the ticket under the consistently stronger breeze and seas.

As you will note from YB Tracking, one-by-one the fleet is turning South. The race is now to the trade winds and Hawaii and one we hope to win since we executed early! Of course it is still a long race to go and positions are expected to continue to change.

Thank you for your great support.
 

Credit John Raymont