| Feeling the effects of the tsunami |
| Friday, 11 February 2005 |
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We are flying along in great conditions, piling on the miles down the east side of the Maldives, heading for the equator just 300 miles away. We should get another hundred or so miles past that line before we enter the fickle winds of the doldrums. Andy M is the only one not looking forward to the equator, as he is not yet introduced to Neptune, and the rest of the crew are planning a 'memorable' initiation ceremony for him.
But it’s not all fun and games on board, we are pushing the boat fast, and trimming, changing leads, taking reefs in and out all day as we balance outright speed and preserving our boat. Earlier today we sailed past the gap between Sri Lanka and India. There is a powerful venturi effect fanning out from between the landmasses, and the resulting seas were controlling our boatspeed. Initially there were headseas and as we passed the axis of the venturi they became beam on, and now as we move south the seas are starting to move behind us and we can open up the throttle in confidence to 25 knots.
Up on the bow Tomma is in his harness on look out duty. He is suspended from the seagull striker (the A frame above the front beam) and scanning the water ahead for flotsam. Earlier today we passed through a current line containing a continuos line of trees and planks, most likely debris from the terrible tsunami, and now drifting 300 miles out to sea. We need to get through this area as fast as possible and in daylight. Being here and seeing the debris just brings home the continuing devastation from the tsunami. Its very sobering to see planks floating on the ocean and wondering what and where they came from.
We emailed the race committee the position of the debris line and they will pass it on to the other competitors.
The race is going well for us so far. We have managed to slowly eke out a lead on Geronimo despite very similar speeds and we are very happy with our sails and crew work. Our course has been a little offshore of the big tri and that has kept us in slightly stronger breeze as we passed India. So good work all round from our team. Still over 21,000 miles to go so we have hardly even started. We heard that Cheyenne tore a piece of one board. That is really bad luck and I am sure that they are coming up with a solution now and carrying on racing. Daedulus is sailing a cracking race.
Brian
www.maxicatdoha.com
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