Day 1 of the Normandy Channel Race

Date: 17/05/2010
REPORT FROM HALVARD, TRANSLATED:

We had a reasonable start and were well placed all the way to the St Marcouf Islands, which we rounded in 3rd place behind the Flying Dutchmen. But then off Barfleur, we decided to stop for some lobster, and caught a huge pot on the rudders. As there is never only one disaster at a time, it happened while I was on the bow re-leading a sheet while Peter was helming, and as we had to furl in rather a hurry, one of the snap shackles released itself from the gennaker clew and we lost the sheet. While we were sorting out our mess, Novedia, Appartcity and the South Africans took the opportunity to sail past us. I hope that they at least appreciated the spectacle, and I shall have to visit them later for the collection.

When mistakes are made, they must be put right, and so we worked studiously all night to regain a few places. Apparently reaching is for the hard-headed, so that suits me down to the ground. We timed our passage through the Solent perfectly, tide with us all the way. Magnificent sunrise off Yarmouth, and as Peter says, a gorgeous morning.

All is well on board, despite numerous issues with the electronics. Peter managed miraculously to get a cockpit display working, which is good news, as we have to keep an eye on our personal stock market the whole time (our stock market consists of the number of miles left to race, and whether those are going up or down. Basically a tool which tells us whether we should buy or sell one sail or another).

With all the fun and games, I’m afraid I was a little behind with my homework, and so I am sending you this report rather late. Oh well, I’ll have to do two hours of detention on Wednesday.

A tantot, de 40 Degrees
Peter & Halvard