GOLD COAST 060600ZOCT11 SKED

LAT 35 27.0S
LONG 018 24.8E
DTR 4767
ETA 1200 28 Oct 11

SKIPPERS BLOG

Goldcoast Australia crossed the line in first position in a fantastic
start for the fourth race of the Clipper Round the World Race. After
crossing the line Goldcoast was the first one to tack towards the
breakwater to make ground to the south prior to the first mark enabling
the team to set up the spinnaker for the next leg. Goldcoast rounded the
top mark in first place and immediately hoisted the Medium weight
Goldcoast Australia spinnaker, leading the fleet around the bay.

We realised there was more wind to the north of the course and did not
want to get stuck under the lee of Table Mountain as we did in the finish.
Unfortunately we underestimated the effect of the lee and became becalmed
under Robin Island. As the rest of the fleet closed in on use we realised
we would have to work hard to get into the wind only a hundred meters
away. Finally as Finland was only a hundred metres astern of us we got a
small puff that moved us into the wind ahead.

Goldcoast Australia held their spinnaker until we were far enough out of
the lee of Table mountain to no longer be affected and then changed to the
Yankee 1 and Staysail. By the time of the 1800z sked, Goldcoast had one
reef and a Yankee 2 and was powering down the coast to the east of
Geraldton Quindaou and DLL, leaving the rest of the fleet becalmed in
their wakes.

Goldcoast has now rounded the infamous Cape of Good Hope and is sailing
south along the edge of the Agulhas bank towards the roaring 40’s westerly
winds and the team is settling in to onboard life once again. A few
people have seemed to have lost their sea legs during our stay in capetown
resulting in more seasick people than we expected. We also experienced
some moderately rough conditions last night which is not the easiest
conditions to settle into on the first night.

Whilst Team Goldcoast Australia expect lighter winds towards the end of
the day it will not be long before we have some fantastic strong westerly
winds and big waves to propel us towards Australia.BT