We have lost a position with Dongfeng as they have sailed better than us and almost 0.3 knots faster.
We were fighting during the first watch. They settled in our same wind line and we were there for around 3 hours. Xabi at the helm, Andre in mainsail and Neti in the grinder.
Everybody fighting to keep the position but gradually we were overtaken by Dongfeng.
“We do not like to be overtaken, and even less to leeward,” said Neti.
All the problems with outrigger and Willy’s broken hand have been important factors in this overtaking by another boat. We do not know if the repair is effective, but we are sure that if we did not sail at 100% was just because the night was too tough for us.
Early morning (with Dongeng less than a mile away), the pad eye broke and made the outrigger also break. Carlos Hernandez ran to the bow to repair it while Rob Greenlagh gave directons from the cockpit in an attempt to keep the speed.
Guillermo Altadill’s hand is swollen and recovery is slow. : “It’s amazing how difficult life on board with one hand,” said Willy.
I know what he means because every time I go on deck I go with the camera, with coffee, with the pot, water bottles etc. So I work with one hand in almost 90 percent of cases. And believe me, to walk around the boat with one hand is not easy. In fact, I think I am using muscles I have never used before.
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Antonio (our bowman) was the only one to receive a gift on this day, very well done Maria! Long live love!
He received a box of chocolates that was the envy of everybody. But Ñeti gave one to each sailor.
Go MAPFRE!!!!