>Hi! Sorry to take 13 days to give you an update, but we have been so
busy racing and catching up on sleep that there has been no time for
e-mail.
>
>After an amazing race restart off of the San Francisco cityfront in
>Force 5 winds, Team California charged into the Pacific Ocean and a
>drizzly sunset with increasing winds and a medium sea state through the
>night. For the first few days, it was squally with winds increasing to
>Force 9 by 0900 on 21 April. A "nice" secondary swell off of the
>starboard quarter made living down below a bit uncomfortable. This swell
>also provided many a salty deck shower and snakepit bath as it hit the
>hull and washed over the deck onto battened down crew.
>
>As with a majority of the boats in the fleet, we had been sailing about
>75-100 miles offshore. For the first 4 days, we made consistent speeds
>of 10 to 11 knots with bursts over 17 knots whilst surfing down the 3-4
>metre swells. We reached the San Diego latitude sooner than
>anticipated.
>
>Most crew had expected temperatures to warm up much quicker than they
>actually did. However, it was almost overnight that we put away our
>oilskins and stripped off a few damp layers. After another few days, we
>were in shorts and dripping with sweat. Currently, not one double
>fleece-lined heavy duty ocean racing sleeping bag is in use during the
>off watch. Last night was the first night watch in shorts.
>
>Whilst still racing, we have quickly repaired our generator and main
>halyard. We lost our temperature gage in the Pacific rollover, so I
>have no idea how hot it is, but I reckon it's in the 90s(F). Down below
>is quite humid.
>
>We are currently about 20 miles off of the coast of southern Mexico with
light Force 3 winds and our spinnaker flying. Each day, we are slowly
gaining on the 6 boats ahead of us. Morale is high as ever. I am
probably the happiest on board as I really missed being with my crew and
skipper and, for some reason, living life at a heeled over angle. The
sailing has been amazing - I have spent a lot of time on the helm and the
foredeck. Since about Los Angeles, the winds have been perfect for flying
the spinnakers.
>
>Guido and I were on motherwatch together (24 hours of cooling and
>cleanig for the rest of the 16 people on board) and cooked up some
>Käsespätzle, Apfelstrudel, and a German brekkie of pumpernickel, chicken
>spread, pickles (from Swabia), and brown mustard.
>
>I am on an amazing watch with Melissa as watchleader and Paul as
>assistant WL. I usually work foredeck with TJ, Paul, or Ed. I am on the
>sail repair team with Melissa and Noreen, a crackerjack borrowed
>crewmember from Cork (sadly, we lose her in Panama when she rejoins her
>team on Cork2). We laugh alot with TJ, Clive, and Ed's constant wit.
>Raiya and I spend the early morning hours trying to identify the
>constellations.
>
>I try to spend some time (when not sleeping at 2 hours at a time) with
>my friends on the other watch: Guido, Jodie, Em, Russell, Elaine, Donna,
>and Chris.
>
>We have seen three types of dolphins, flying fish (I still find htem
>incredibly silly creatures), sea birds, turtles, and a very lost dove, a
few whales, and loads of turtles. We are hoping for a speedy race and
>transit so that we can spend a bit more time in Jamaica and to catch up
>with our new Leg 7 crew.
>
>The boat has some off smells from time to time (grey water tank after a
>shower (like rotten eggs), the bilge (diesel), and a few cotton socks
that have gone off), but otherwise, despite the increasing temps, things
>aren't too smelly. This should change after a few more days.
>
>I would love to hear from you. Please remember not to send large files
>or photos and to remove this original message and any footers in your
>reply. I am unable to access my bagleyoceanracing.posterous blog from
>the boat but shall try to update in from port to port when I can.
>
>Gotta go - reports of a very large fish jumping out of the water . . .
>
>Peace Out,
>Bagley
>(2 May, 2147 hours UTC; 14 degrees latitude)
busy racing and catching up on sleep that there has been no time for
e-mail.
>
>After an amazing race restart off of the San Francisco cityfront in
>Force 5 winds, Team California charged into the Pacific Ocean and a
>drizzly sunset with increasing winds and a medium sea state through the
>night. For the first few days, it was squally with winds increasing to
>Force 9 by 0900 on 21 April. A "nice" secondary swell off of the
>starboard quarter made living down below a bit uncomfortable. This swell
>also provided many a salty deck shower and snakepit bath as it hit the
>hull and washed over the deck onto battened down crew.
>
>As with a majority of the boats in the fleet, we had been sailing about
>75-100 miles offshore. For the first 4 days, we made consistent speeds
>of 10 to 11 knots with bursts over 17 knots whilst surfing down the 3-4
>metre swells. We reached the San Diego latitude sooner than
>anticipated.
>
>Most crew had expected temperatures to warm up much quicker than they
>actually did. However, it was almost overnight that we put away our
>oilskins and stripped off a few damp layers. After another few days, we
>were in shorts and dripping with sweat. Currently, not one double
>fleece-lined heavy duty ocean racing sleeping bag is in use during the
>off watch. Last night was the first night watch in shorts.
>
>Whilst still racing, we have quickly repaired our generator and main
>halyard. We lost our temperature gage in the Pacific rollover, so I
>have no idea how hot it is, but I reckon it's in the 90s(F). Down below
>is quite humid.
>
>We are currently about 20 miles off of the coast of southern Mexico with
light Force 3 winds and our spinnaker flying. Each day, we are slowly
gaining on the 6 boats ahead of us. Morale is high as ever. I am
probably the happiest on board as I really missed being with my crew and
skipper and, for some reason, living life at a heeled over angle. The
sailing has been amazing - I have spent a lot of time on the helm and the
foredeck. Since about Los Angeles, the winds have been perfect for flying
the spinnakers.
>
>Guido and I were on motherwatch together (24 hours of cooling and
>cleanig for the rest of the 16 people on board) and cooked up some
>Käsespätzle, Apfelstrudel, and a German brekkie of pumpernickel, chicken
>spread, pickles (from Swabia), and brown mustard.
>
>I am on an amazing watch with Melissa as watchleader and Paul as
>assistant WL. I usually work foredeck with TJ, Paul, or Ed. I am on the
>sail repair team with Melissa and Noreen, a crackerjack borrowed
>crewmember from Cork (sadly, we lose her in Panama when she rejoins her
>team on Cork2). We laugh alot with TJ, Clive, and Ed's constant wit.
>Raiya and I spend the early morning hours trying to identify the
>constellations.
>
>I try to spend some time (when not sleeping at 2 hours at a time) with
>my friends on the other watch: Guido, Jodie, Em, Russell, Elaine, Donna,
>and Chris.
>
>We have seen three types of dolphins, flying fish (I still find htem
>incredibly silly creatures), sea birds, turtles, and a very lost dove, a
few whales, and loads of turtles. We are hoping for a speedy race and
>transit so that we can spend a bit more time in Jamaica and to catch up
>with our new Leg 7 crew.
>
>The boat has some off smells from time to time (grey water tank after a
>shower (like rotten eggs), the bilge (diesel), and a few cotton socks
that have gone off), but otherwise, despite the increasing temps, things
>aren't too smelly. This should change after a few more days.
>
>I would love to hear from you. Please remember not to send large files
>or photos and to remove this original message and any footers in your
>reply. I am unable to access my bagleyoceanracing.posterous blog from
>the boat but shall try to update in from port to port when I can.
>
>Gotta go - reports of a very large fish jumping out of the water . . .
>
>Peace Out,
>Bagley
>(2 May, 2147 hours UTC; 14 degrees latitude)
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