Closing the gap...

I had some sleep then read my last blog about Puffins and Football
players and realised that I should probably try and get more sleep!

After that it was straight back into the game of sailing fast. Of
course 'fast' is an opinion based on what your used to. When I woke up
we were to
the east of Aberdeen, I know having done the route many many times
that it takes me 1 hour 10 from Aberdeen to Gatwick. As a we are not
even going that far south (as Gatwick) we should be there well in time
for lunch. However when I look at the GPS it says it will take us
another 52 hours...

Maybe I should either learn to sail faster or change my opinion of
speed/distance!

Having had a great start to the leg the wind went slack around 9am and
got gradually lighter as the day went on (sad face) then the sun came
out (happy face!) so the lack of wind gave us a chance to eat some
real food (ie. not freeze dried) and get some jobs done on the boat.

All the while we are doing this we have the 'Code Zero' sail hoisted
(new toy for the boat!) and have boat speed = wind speed in a
direction close to that of where we want to go! The new sail worked
like a dream and we now have one of our rivals (Fastrack VII) within 2
miles of us so have effectively made up 1 hour 45 on him since leaving
Shetland. He is currently 3rd in class and 5th overall. So getting in
front of him and staying there will cetainly bump us up a few places.

If we can or not us another matter......