The water temperature is just incredible considering how it was only a couple of weeks ago. The sun warms and dries you out and the Caribbean islands are so magical we should have a Volvo right here. Like a small-scale round the world race based in the Caribbean, only sailing during the day between the islands. That would be a in a perfect world.
We keep sailing in a constant wind shift and against the current. We are fast and wet. Sometimes the conditions are magical; sometimes we’re covered with water and seaweed.
The afternoon had a golden glow to it and together with Ñeti, Xabi, Willy and Rob we spent some great moments on deck. The spray was almost perfect and the boat was doing between 22 and 25 knots. We surfed the waves for 30 minutes non-stop in a wonderful sunset which you probably only get in the Caribbean.
We kept heading west, forcing us to change our meal times.
The battle with “Abu Dhabi” is really tough and we’re now even after the Doldrums. On the other hand the fleet that is to leeward is pushing really hard. The boys say it’s never enough – you always have to push more and the others do it as well.
Truth is the boat is performing at its best and the guys are really focused.
You have to be really careful with the seaweed for it tangles on the leeward rudder and makes you immediately lose control. We’ve had a couple of those already. We are not really friends with the seaweed, which is now all over the place.
#vamosMAPFRE!
Francisco Vignale, OBR