GOLD COAST 180600ZAPR12 SKED AND BLOG – SANFRANSISCO – PANAMA

LAT 27 52.2N
LONG 117 15.9W
DT CABO FALSO 444nm
DTF 2596nm
ETA 13 May 2012
COG 130
SOG 8.0

WEATHER WIND 335@18kts, Sea Mod, Swell NW 1.5m, Cloud 1/8, Baro 1018

Gold Coast Australia sailed well throughout the night opting to sail to the western side of Guadalupe. The decision was made to take the western side after the wind picked up after sunset last night and the boat felt a bit too loaded up steering the angles required to pass the island to the south.

At sunrise Guadalupe loomed in the sea mist and cloud, and as the day warmed up we got a good look at the rugged mountainous island as we sailed 15nm along its western coast. After we passed south of the island a tactical error was made thinking we were out of the lee of the island. As a result the wind dropped from the 18kts that the rest of the fleet was sailing in to 10kts. To add to the error the wind backed leaving us no choice but to sail to the east. The rest of the afternoon was spend trying to sail out of the lee of the island, loosing many miles to the other leading yachts. Finally at sunset the wind picked back up and veered to its predicted direction and we are sailing well trying to make up lost ground.

At the moment the fleet is very close and we can see five other yachts in our vicinity giving us good motivation to sail well throughout the night as we set ourselves up for the next light wind phase of the race.

Richard Hewson