Monday, July 23, 2007

5 days to shore

Friday: "Being Not for the Benefit of Mr. Kite."
The day was sticky with light showers as we approached what we think was a frontal zone between the warm moist tropical air being rotated up from the South around tropical storm Cosme and the drier air of the Pacific high. As night approached, we penetrated a squall line and the winds began to build. At first we were excited, since we'd resolved to sail aggressively to try and get ahead of the Cal 40's. So we left the big spinnaker up. The first squall was great, with Nigel at the helm as 27-28K winds began driving us through the water at 12K. In complete darkness, Andy took us through the second with precision at top speed of 15K, water shooting past the gunwales on either side like a firehose. Then it was Jeff's turn on the helm. The breeze picked up to 30+ knots, and we hit 16.5K. Then we wiped out. No problem, ease the sheets, boat comes up, off we go again. Then we wiped out again. This time, the spinnaker sheet got tangled over the back of the mainsail boom, and in trying to get it free, the wildly flopping kite got nicked on the mast or something, and quickly ripped itself to shreds. We dropped it down, poled out a blast reacher, and motored directly down the great circle, rather chastened.

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