Skippers log #1
Punta del Esta
No Barriers is ready. The few repairs and maintenance jobs are done, fuel is aboard. The sails have been stitched and new panels where needed replaced. It was an expensive job, with no local sailmaker so the person who did the work had to come from Argentina. Gwen came down with the flu as we were finishing the work, and I am fighting off the flu that has hit many of the sailors and support crews. She is busy cooking my leg 4 meals and all that we need now do is put the sails on the boom and roller furler, stock up on my chocolate and a few other staples, take fresh food and water aboard, and head out to the start line. Unfortunately the weather has been cold and rainy so we have not been able to go horse riding or body surfing. We have been to the movies twice where the films are in English with Spanish sub-titles. This week Les and Denice Phillips from Phillips Industrial Services arrive to send me off on the last leg. There have been a steady stream of people walking the docks, the most I have seen during any of the stop overs. Punta has been good. On this last leg I have a lot to think about regarding our future, and whether or not I will remain in ocean yacht racing. There are many major decisions to be made by the time I get to Charleston. This last leg is to be fully savored.
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Skippers log #2
34 57s 54 37w at 21:30 GMT
I left Punta with a very sad and heavy heart. The repairs were completed, provisions loaded and there was some time to rest. Before arriving in Punta, I asked Monitor Windvanes to send me some spare parts. On arrival I was told that the customs clearance bill was going to be $250, which was not in my budget. I decided to have the parts sent back to Monitor, and discovered that Neil Hunter on Paladin had the same problem. When the people at Monitor discovered this, they immediately offered to pay the customs clearance bill. We received the parts, and we are most impressed by Monitor Windvanes for their support. Not only do they build a top quality product, they fully support their product. The same is with Profurl. Mark Reuthers from Profurl flew out to service their roller furlers. My system had crossed two oceans between being checked and there were no problems. Just one leg of this race is more than most systems will see in a lifetime. Les Phillips, President of Phillips Industrial Services, and his son, Shawn, flew out for the start to support my campaign. We also hooked up with Teddy Turner, Jnr. and his wife Leslie. At the prize giving party I was given my gold earing for rounding the Horn. I was going to pierce my left ear in the tradition of sailing, but was spoken out of it in case of an infection setting in. This morning Les and Shawn came out to the starting line with me and helped set up the boat. The start today went well. I crossed the line first again. I have taken the gun on three of the four starts and very pleased with it. It helped to brighten my day, but still I sail with a heavy heart.
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Skippers log #3
Things are very rough with winds of 40 to 50 knots. I am very seasick and not feeling well at all. Hopefully tomorrow things will be better. It's too dangerous to write at the moment.
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Skippers log #4
35 02s 52 01w at 13:35 GMT
Yesterday's news of Balance Bar's dismasting did nothing to lift my spirits. If anything, it made me depressed. I was seasick, in very rough seas and had taken the mainsail down. The winds had gusted to near 50 knots and I was glad that I had only the staysail set as more sail would have resulted in knockdowns. All day and night I did not care for the boat in my mood, and for a long time I even sailed away from the finish line, with no purpose. This morning I pulled myself together a bit. The winds had dropped so I got the mainsail hoisted and moving along towards the NE. I just want this leg to be over and get back to Charleston so that I can pick up the pieces of what I had left behind there and rebuild my life. This race has been a huge challenge, and with all monumental challenges, some things are affected due to neglect. There are many old tasks to be completed and new ones to begin.
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Skippers log #5
32 55s 48 42w at 17:30
I am still trailing the fleet, 15 miles astern of Paladin, but closing the gap. Weather is nasty again. Got 3 reefs in mainsail and some genoa set. Water ballast tank on port side is leaking badly dumping content into bilge. I have been pumping out water every 2 hours and filling ballast. Using lots of power. Had difficulty getting engine started as I took batteries so low. Still having to hold on.
