We get a sked every six hours and the last one was much expected and very welcome! We went from fourth to third, with Team SCA and Dongfeng behind us.
We’ve been sailing really well for the last 12 hours and that put us in a very good position, allowing us to gain miles on Team SCA. Alvimedica was third to leeward of us but they missed a good shift and dropped to sixth – that must’ve been hard for them.
The mainsheet creaks on deck, we’ve been sailing fully powered the whole day, really focused on our watches. Little by little we climbed to where we are now.
Tonight we’ll have 16 knots and after that we’ll enter the Doldrums. I’m feeling really anxious about it and wonder what’ll happen there; whoever comes out first will have big chances of coming first into Auckland as well, although there’s still a long way to go.
The equator is just some miles away, and those who’ve never crossed before are feeling slightly intimidated by the crew’s accounts of other crossings. They know King Neptune will show no pity.
Sunsets and sunrises are every time nicer. This latitude has a great climate, nice wind, and each sunset is just magic. Sailing here is a pleasure, an even bigger one on a boat like this.
We’ve counted the days left for the arrival in New Zealand and we think we’ll get there by March 1rst. The guys didn’t hesitate and help themselves in the food bags for days 24 and 25. We treated ourselves to a big feast of cheese, ham, fajitas, chocolate and nuts.
#vamosMAPFRE!
Fran Vignale