GOLD COAST 160600ZJUN12 SKED – RACE START HALIFAX – DERRY

LAT 43 52.1N
LONG 060 56.6W
DTF 2600
ETA 1 July 2012
SOG 10kts
COG 112

WEATHER WIND 050@18kts, Sea Mod, Swell NE 1-2m, Sky 8/8 StCl, Baro 1022

A beautiful day in Halifax saw the start of race 12 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from Halifax to Derry London Derry. With pleasant and reasonably steady winds, and a start line and inshore course professionally set and executed by the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron the fleet of 10 yachts lined up with only minutes to go.

Once again, skippers of the Dubious 68’s handle the yachts like laser dinghy’s, and with only metres between each yacht we all hit the start line with seconds to spare.

Gold Coast Australia did not get the best start, as we were squeezed out with Derry London Derry sailing above us and New York coming up from under us there was nowhere to go but to slow the boat down and wait for some room to manoeuvre. As soon as the other yachts cleared we tacked onto port ahead of the committee boat and into clear air. Tacking back onto Starboard we were lifted nicely with good winds to take us all the way to the top mark where we arrived in first place.

Our Gold Coast Australia medium weight spinnaker was quickly hoisted and before too long the whole fleet were flying their branded medium weight spinnakers behind us giving the Halifax spectators a beautiful sight.

After a couple of miles of running on Port gybe, we were quickly running out of water and commenced our gybe onto Starboard. This is a very good reminder why we do not regularly sail these big yachts in inshore races very often as they are not a agile as your average 40ft inshore racer. Our gybe was completed in good time, and we headed towards the southern shore before gybing back, passing the next couple of marks to port before rounding the bottom mark where our Y1 and Staysail were hoisted quickly before an expert drop of the spinnaker as we rounded the bottom mark and headed east.

Shifty conditions saw Gold Coast Australia and a few other yachts not being able to lay the next mark to starboard, so we were forced to put in a quick tack ahead of the other yachts and round the virtual mark before tacking again and setting course for Sable Island.

The decision to pass to the north or to the south of Sable Island was made when the wind veered another ten degrees making it very hard to lay the northern waypoint. As a result Gold Coast Australia is leading the fleet as we all head towards the virtual waypoint positioned 20nm south of Sable Island sailing slightly off the wind.

The conditions for our first day at sea have been quite choppy, so for the crew who joined in New York and have not experienced heading to sea and these conditions there are a few wide eyes and a few people feeling the effects of the dreaded sea sickness. One crew member Mel Walker even decided to try a bit of water skiing, as she was knocked by a wave while fixing the leward running backstay and was swept over the side. Being clipped on with a safety strop at the time the only danger was wet boots and damaged pride, and a quick responding helmsman Annelise Nelson turned the boat into the wind to slow as down as Mel was dragged back onto the correct side of the rail. For the new crew onboard this highlights the importance of safety procedures and correct use of equipment and was a good reminder for us all to be careful.

Gold Coast Australia is expected to round Sable Island within the next few hours and will maintain our easterly course until it is possible to clear the ice gates set at 45N south of Newfoundland. Once clear of the gates (and the ice) we can make our course north to commence our great circle route towards Derry London Derry. With headwinds and light winds forecasted this race could take more time than originality predicted but Gold Coast Australia will endeavour to maintain our lead regardless. Go Gold Coast!