WALVIS BAY RACE -Namibia
The start was on Monday 10th MArch. We got a great start, first over the line on the pin end, we tacked onto port and prety much stayed there. We shaved past Dassen and onto Columbine. Conditions were flukey. In our first 24 hour run we did 138nm. The second run involved the wind feeing, kites up with a growing breeze in which we managed 211nm. Eventually the breeze became too strong and we dropeed the kite and eventually had us sailing with two reefs in the main and a number 3. Just before sunset we had a full blown gale running which forced us to drop the main and sail only with the headsail. The seas were very confused with the odd wave been taken over the stern or quarter. During the following morning it was stil blowing but managed to sail goos winged under two fore sails. Over the next day or so the wind moderated with us slowly sailing again under kite and then our lite kite. Soon the NW filed in with us fetching and beating in. During the night hours it was very flueky with us soetimes struggling to hold any speed. We were still in the running. Hi Fi was about 70nm ahead which in good conditions would be about 12 hours ahead. As things would hapen they finished around the time the wind dorr closed. With us being out at sea still for an extra long time. We started to get the wind again(SW) while getting closer to Pelican point with us cutting it fine and a nice fast sail accross Walvis bay to the finish. We came 4th on corrected time and basically comleted the course in 5 days and 2 hours. We used SSB for communicating and had no problems with this, we made quite a few phone calls with this system. CT Radio were great as well as Walvis Bay Radio. Catering was done by Greg Harrowsmith, all was good here and all were well fed. The boat experienced no major problems with just a bit of chafe on one of the sails. Aboard were Dale, Ian, Sarel, Walter and Greg.
The start was on Monday 10th MArch. We got a great start, first over the line on the pin end, we tacked onto port and prety much stayed there. We shaved past Dassen and onto Columbine. Conditions were flukey. In our first 24 hour run we did 138nm. The second run involved the wind feeing, kites up with a growing breeze in which we managed 211nm. Eventually the breeze became too strong and we dropeed the kite and eventually had us sailing with two reefs in the main and a number 3. Just before sunset we had a full blown gale running which forced us to drop the main and sail only with the headsail. The seas were very confused with the odd wave been taken over the stern or quarter. During the following morning it was stil blowing but managed to sail goos winged under two fore sails. Over the next day or so the wind moderated with us slowly sailing again under kite and then our lite kite. Soon the NW filed in with us fetching and beating in. During the night hours it was very flueky with us soetimes struggling to hold any speed. We were still in the running. Hi Fi was about 70nm ahead which in good conditions would be about 12 hours ahead. As things would hapen they finished around the time the wind dorr closed. With us being out at sea still for an extra long time. We started to get the wind again(SW) while getting closer to Pelican point with us cutting it fine and a nice fast sail accross Walvis bay to the finish. We came 4th on corrected time and basically comleted the course in 5 days and 2 hours. We used SSB for communicating and had no problems with this, we made quite a few phone calls with this system. CT Radio were great as well as Walvis Bay Radio. Catering was done by Greg Harrowsmith, all was good here and all were well fed. The boat experienced no major problems with just a bit of chafe on one of the sails. Aboard were Dale, Ian, Sarel, Walter and Greg.
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