GOLD COAST 100600ZJUN12 SKED – NY TO HALIFAX

LAT 42 17.0N
LONG 066 09.0W
DTF 157nm
ETA 0400 L 11 Jun 12
SOG 9.0kts
COG 040

WEATHER WIND Variable 13-18kts, Sea Mod, Swell Variable 1m, Cloud 3/8, Baro 1016

An almost perfect day of sailing for Gold Coast Australia, with the sun out and moderate breeze from astern we have been sailing nicely with the medium weight kite up past the infamous Georges Bank, made famous from the Perfect Storm. It was far from stormy conditions today and we were loving it.

Whales, dolphins and schools of fish joined us for our sail today, along with over fat birds getting ready for the mating season and their migration. Along with the schools of fish, many fishing trawlers and lobster fishing boats occupy the waters and provide good sport for the helmsmen as we weave between them and their lobster pots.

Gold Coast Australia regained the lead today sailing around the outside of the yachts to the west, and placing us in a good position for when the wind veers around to the north and then north east over the next day. As we passed the northern part of Georges Bank, the tide turned earlier for the yachts to the west and south giving them the edge and better speed over us, however, at midnight the tide finally turned for us and our SOG increased to match that of the other yachts, catapulting us towards Brownes Bank where we hope to gain another tidal advantage to help maintain our lead over the yachts to the west.

Shortly after the midnight watch change the wind veered 60 degrees prompting an all hands on deck to hoist the Y1 and drop the medium weight spinnaker. For the next couple of hours the wind direction was variable, and we tossed up weather to hoist the spinnaker again or to remain under Y1. Sailing hot angles with the spinnaker up can get quite messy unless everybody is on the ball, so we remained with the Y1 until the wind settled. While this may have possibly cost us some miles on the rest of the fleet, at least we do not run the risk of blowing our spinnaker due to a sudden gust of wind.

It will be interesting to see where the fleet lies at the next sked, and we hope that we maintain our lead towards the finish less than 160nm away in Halifax.