Well the provisional results were confirmed yesterday, and I received the trophy for Classes C/D yesterday along with Joel Falken-Smith, at 17 our youngest crew member. The crew celebrated in their usual enthusiastic way.
The race was run in fairly changeable conditions, with no consistent strength above 20 knots, although this was based on our estimates as we had no working wind strength or direction indicators for the whole race. As it happens the crew enjoyed the challenge and worked hard at sailing by the feel of the wind. The wind was on the nose for a lot of the trip, including the last 300 miles, but we had one superb downwind leg under spinnaker where we logged 260 miles in 24 hours. This was twice what we achieved any other day.
We had a great start well ahead of our competitors, but a frustrating finish with an ebbing tide and very light Westerly wind keeping us in sight of the finish line for several hours.
The crew worked really well together and we could not have achieved this result without them. They have worked hard, eaten well and played hard. This evening we have a crew party, and tomorrow we are invited to a house party by a woman who did the same for us in 2000. The hospitality here has been superb.
On Monday we start the race to Boston, and we have been getting everything checked over and ready. We like it here but will be glad to get to sea!
Bill Jermey
