07.06.2009
http://media.pumaoceanracing.com
LEG 8 DAY 2
I think I want to move to Ireland.
It is always sunny (at least when we were there). The golf is amazing.
The people couldn't be nicer. You can get a pint of beer just about
anywhere you turn. All we did was win races when we were there. And
people wanted us to sign autographs and take photos with them all hours of
the day. Hmmmm. What's not to like about all of that?!?!
The "Lets do it Galway" group set up a program that could become the model
for Volvo stops in the future. They got the ball rolling and the people
of the region took the ball and ran with it- huge congratulations to all
involved. It was our extreme pleasure to be a part of your community for
a couple weeks and you can bet your last dollar that I will be back. Long
before the Volvo comes back. Golf anyone?
And the weather to leave was amazing as well. Not exactly warm and sunny,
but windy and really fast!
In this race, when leaving port, we have typically had either a storm or
drifted. Rarely have we had a solid breeze to get down the track like we
did over the last 17 hours. Some amazing sailing and some pretty hairy
moments as well.
After the send off the fleet settled down and started a drag race down the
coast. The Dragons were the only one to split offshore and sure enough
they gained a couple miles on us all when we came together. Then came the
fun part! A 38 knot squall just when we needed to jibe with our masthead
chute up! Yikes!!! Along with a big shift, we decided to drop the kite
and switch to the jib and jib-reach for a bit until the squall passed.
Good plan, bad execution. Full gear up in 38.7 true is pretty touch and
go. Just getting the kite down is touch and go- especially when it pops
up and over the top of the indexsail and jams in the shive. Did I mention
it was blowing 38 during all of this?
We finally got the halyard to run and the boat jibed. The Dragons were
the only boat to jibe before the big breeze and gained a few miles. Last
time I saw E4 they were laying on there side blowing out to sea. They
finally jibed about 10 minutes after we did. And sure enough, once we
rounded the bottom corner of Ireland and beam reached at an average of 27
knots across to Fastnet Rock, all of us were within a few miles again.
Magnets, these boats are, we just can't get away from each other.
Now we are officially entering the English Channel. Just passed Lands
End, and got here in 17 hours which has to be some sort of unofficial
record by water. Fast all night and now the breeze is easing and coming
aft and we should be running down the Channel in moderate to light breeze
for most of the day. E4 is about two miles to leeward, T-Blue about two
miles behind and E3 about a mile behind them. Again the wild card is the
Dragons who sagged well off toward the French side of the Channel and may
come out well ahead again when this is all said and done. Not sure, and
honestly we have to keep a close eye on our T-Blue friends anyway. Not
that we don't want to win the leg but we do have a job in hand and that is
to try and put points on T-Blue.
The normal first day blues are rubbing off and we will quickly get back in
synch. We were just talking about the high speed night we just had and
all are smiling now that the spray isn't pummeling us every second. Man
these boats are fast and WET! Glad PUMA took it upon themselves to make
the best foul weather gear we have ever worn. It is surely getting
tested!
- Kenny
For more information on Puma Ocean Racing, please contact:
Bridgid Murphy or Kate Fairclough - PUMA Ocean Racing
Tel: +1 978 996 5155 or +44 7827 277 517
bridgid.murphy@puma.com or kate.fairclough@puma.com
|
