I am writing to you from a remote place where it’s cold, windy and where albatrosses visit us every now and then.
“Today I saw a dead whale surrounded by a 100 birds” Rob told me, saying it wasn’t impressive enough for him to call me up to take a photo.
I am writing these words as the batteries are charging up and I am happily warming up thanks to the heat of the engine.
After a tough night, the position report arrived this morning with bad news. We’re in 6thplace… we saw Dongfeng passing us to windward a mile and a half away. They were in breeze and we weren’t. “It’s a long leg and this will undoubtedly change, it’s a big casino” says Jean Luc, with a cheery tone in his voice to lift our spirits.
A few pieces of soft cheese, a pudding or a piece of chocolate also lift our spirits during Xabi, Carlos and Rob’s watch, when they were sailing with Team SCA just by our bow, and Dongfeng, two miles ahead on starboard.
Some squalls here and there remind us where we are, and I wonder whether in these latitude and on these waters the sun actually rises? We haven’t really seen the sun since we left New Zealand, and the truth is that we could use some if its warmth.
Key moments for the fleet in this leg are coming up: first and foremost, we must decide before March 23 whether we’re taking the northern or the southern route. It seems that a low-pressure system will cross our way around March 26, and two possible routes determine the routing on the charts table. However, the fleet also carries its weight and it’ll influence greatly the fact that we’re battling from behind. Another scenario is the fact that we’re the most southern boat right now, which will play for us would we decide to take the southern route ultimately, since we’d have about 100nm advantage on the north-eastern pack.
Thanks to our friend Joan Farras for the excellent ham and cheese he’s supplied in Auckland. The guys are not leaving anything behind, and a big smile appears on their faces when snack time is coming up!
#vamosMAPFRE
Fran