We have been so busy and then our comms shut down, so I am finally able
to provide an update. It is still scorching hot andhumid. Down below
smells like a zoo. The main hatch (and only soruce of real
ventiallation) hasbeen shutdue to larger seas and lots of water overthe
bow. Things are damp and drippy inside. Wehad an amazing finish on teh way toPanama, with Singapore on the
horizon for 2 days., At one point, we were300 metres ahead - and ended
finishing about amile or two ahead. Very close! We have had soem
trouble witb our new rig and it was very loose, causing us to be a bit
slower than other boats. Skipper's choice to head inside cloaserto teh
coast did not pay off. A quick stopover in muggy Panma did not provide enough time for rest,
but did provide many cold beers and a few cold showers. We were rushed
throughthe Panama Canal but nearly failed to make the final gate in
time. We were held just before the final gate with CBI, H&Hand Edinburgh.
We rafted up and had a swim in the setting sun. A new pilot retrieved
us a few hours later and we had anopther short stay on the other side
before starting the next race. This has been a tough upwind leg, with a few sea sickness casualties,
very wet and bumpy conditions, and lots of small squalls at night. We
are all sleep deprived. My hands hurt from helming under such
conditions - it takes a lot of strength to stay on vourse and to go as
fast as possible. We have specialised positions this time, and I am on
eof 6 helmsmen as well as Bow #5 and back up inthe snake pit. Winds are
20-25knots NE with swell 8 to 12 feet. As our luck would have it, only 50% of our electrical works, we have an
mystery leak requiing dailing biulge pumping, our reef line broke and
even worse, our sterreing went out twice. We continued for a day with
emergency sterring and slkower speeds but are nopw back with the wheel
and good speeds. We are all looking forard to arrving in Jamaica shortly and catching up
on that much needed sleep. Peace Out, Bagley
15 32.12N 77 31.83W in the lively Caribbean Sea
to provide an update. It is still scorching hot andhumid. Down below
smells like a zoo. The main hatch (and only soruce of real
ventiallation) hasbeen shutdue to larger seas and lots of water overthe
bow. Things are damp and drippy inside. Wehad an amazing finish on teh way toPanama, with Singapore on the
horizon for 2 days., At one point, we were300 metres ahead - and ended
finishing about amile or two ahead. Very close! We have had soem
trouble witb our new rig and it was very loose, causing us to be a bit
slower than other boats. Skipper's choice to head inside cloaserto teh
coast did not pay off. A quick stopover in muggy Panma did not provide enough time for rest,
but did provide many cold beers and a few cold showers. We were rushed
throughthe Panama Canal but nearly failed to make the final gate in
time. We were held just before the final gate with CBI, H&Hand Edinburgh.
We rafted up and had a swim in the setting sun. A new pilot retrieved
us a few hours later and we had anopther short stay on the other side
before starting the next race. This has been a tough upwind leg, with a few sea sickness casualties,
very wet and bumpy conditions, and lots of small squalls at night. We
are all sleep deprived. My hands hurt from helming under such
conditions - it takes a lot of strength to stay on vourse and to go as
fast as possible. We have specialised positions this time, and I am on
eof 6 helmsmen as well as Bow #5 and back up inthe snake pit. Winds are
20-25knots NE with swell 8 to 12 feet. As our luck would have it, only 50% of our electrical works, we have an
mystery leak requiing dailing biulge pumping, our reef line broke and
even worse, our sterreing went out twice. We continued for a day with
emergency sterring and slkower speeds but are nopw back with the wheel
and good speeds. We are all looking forard to arrving in Jamaica shortly and catching up
on that much needed sleep. Peace Out, Bagley
15 32.12N 77 31.83W in the lively Caribbean Sea
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