9/10
LAT 40 02.7S
LONG 27 29.0E
DTR 4200
ETA 0600 28 Oct 11

SKIPPERS BLOG

In the past few hours Goldocast Australia passed 40 degrees south and
entered the southern ocean at about the same time the wind dropped 10kts.

The last 24 hours we have seen extremely shifty conditions with wind
direction varying 60 degrees and wind strength varying from 10 to 20
knots. These conditions have made sailing very challenging, and the crew
are constantly re trimming and adjusting course to maintain our boatspeed
so we can stay ahead of the pack.

Because we have been forced to stay north due to the lingering high
pressure system we are basically sailing in a different direction and
different wind to the other boats further south. If we were to head south
to cover our opposition we would simply fall into a big wind hole and
stop. Our only option is to head east to the and hope that we can
maintain our lead in the process.

Whilst the conditions are frustrating there is still time for a few good
laughs onboard, and with 18 people, the saloon represented a cross between
popular wine bar and a cage of monkeys last night at dinner time as people
chatted while swaying on their feet and swinging from the rafters (or hand
rails) under the ambiance of red light.

WHILE IN QINGDAO I WILL BE UNDERGOING SOME WEBSITE MAINTENANCE PUTTTING UP OLD BLOGS, IT SHOULD BE SOME INTERESTING READING, BUT NORMAL SKEDS AND BLOGS WILL RESUME ON THE 4TH OF MARCH.

CHEERS

RICH

LAT 25 35S
LONG 028 12W
DTR 3200

SKIPPERS BLOG

04OO Thismorning I was called on deck to make some tactical decisions and
throw in a gybe, I decided to break into my emergency “(IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY BREAK GLASS)” coffee.,.. BAD MOVE

Ive been feeling sick ever since with gastro, and even threw up a few
times…

The good news is that after nearly a day in bed sweating it off in the
tropical heat (inside temp of boat at moment 35 deg) I Think im nearly
over it.

The other good news is that earlier today we gybed back to the west as we
had lost wind where we were and came accross Singapore and Yorkshire and
we were still in the lead. Now we have gybed back and heading towards the
gate and the wind has once more picked up to what I would have expect in
this area.

back to bed to sleep off this sickness, good reminder not to introduce
strange things into diets whilst at sea no matter how tempting the
branding looks. BT

LAT 29 02.0
LONG 018 52.0
DTR 3420

SKIPPERS BLOG.

Goldcoast Australia has retained the lead over the past 12 hours dispite
numerous halyard problems.

Being the inventive Australians, we will not be beaten and have come up
with many solutions for chafe prevention, and solutions on how to fix the
problems with limited equipment or spare parts.

If we were to leave port with a spare part for everything that may break
during the race, the boat would be wighed down beyond the gunwals, so it
is a matter of finding a solution and working on it.

Maintenance has become a daily task, as has sending our Super Bow Girl
lisa up the mast and out to the end of the spinaker pole regually to check
for chafe and to replace sheets, guys and halyards on the run without
taking down the sail and loosing speed. I think Lisa has probably spent
over 3 hours up the mast so far this race, which is an incredible feat.

Everybody onboard is getting very good at re-splicing, sewing and whipping
as we frantically try to stop this ongoing plague of chafe.

A busy boat is a happy boat, and everybody is thorougly enjoying the
tradewinds sailing. Perfect conditions and good company to head to Rio.

LAT 28 14.0
LONG 3858.0
DTR 2980

Monday afternoon Goldcoast Australia hoisted their medium weight spinnaker
that was expertly repaired by UK Santa Cruz Sails and made best speed for
a small trough on the edge of the large high pressure system surrounding
the fleet. Goldcoast Australia had high hopes that this would be the run
we had been searching for that would lead us into the strong winds of the
south Atlantic. Two hours later our hopes were destroyed, as the wind
first backed around 40 degrees and then died all together. Goldcoast
watched helplessly as we drifted without wind as our nearest rival
Singapore only miles to the east, picked up some breeze and sailed across
the horizon and away.

For hours now we have been stopped still in the water. The rolling swell
of the south Atlantic rocking the boat and knocking the slightest bits of
wind that passes over our deck out of the sails preventing tbem from
propelling us foward. The swell passes and the sails invert, cracking like
a whip as the boat rolls the other way. The cycle repeats and repeats
with the constant shudder of the boom and sails haunting the crew below.
Its almost like the doldrums has been moved 40 degrees south. Yet only
30nm away, just over the horizon breeze awaits us yet we can not get to
it. Our only hope is that the rest of the fleet are also sitting like
ducks in a pond further inside the High pressure system.

Every whisper of wind is precious, and we trim our winseeker headsail and
our main sail to catch the slightest breeze to nudge towards the south and
out of this massive wind hole where we will find stronger winds to take us
East to Capetown. BT

LAT 45 21.1S
LONG 045 00.4E
DTR 3380
ETA 1200I 28 Oct 11

Wind 279 @ 32kts gusting 40
Conditions Cloud 6/8 with occasional snow shower

SKIPPERS BLOG

The last 24 hours has been a mixture of the most beautiful fair weather sailing in
the southern ocean and some of the most extreme sailing of one can experaince.

Yesterday Goldcoast Australia was having a fantastic sail in the southern ocean
surrounded by Petrels, Whales, Sharks and even tuna jumping out of the water.
Wind was perfect between 20 and 25 kts and we were running downwind with the heavy
weight kite up. At dinner time I checked the log as usual and noticed the
barometer had been dropping steadily over the past two hours so decided to take
the spinnaker down. While everybody was getting on deck ready for the drop, the
helmsman got a 30 kt gust combined with a bad wave and we rounded up. Armegeddon
was upon us! The spinnaker pole snapped for reasons I am unsure about and the
kite flew foward. Unfortunately the crew could not bring the emergency tack line
on quick enough and the kite wrapped around the forestay rendering the tack line
useless. Efforts were immediately made to unwrap the kite in accordance with our
SOP’s without success.

I made the decision to go up the forestry and attempt to unwrap the main twist
that was causing the problems while the wind was still under 30 kts. Whilst up
the forestay the spinnaker wrapped again with me inside it, forcing me to cut my
way out and cut the spinnaker that was now jamming my halyards. Over an hour
later I was winched back to the deck. I then made attempts to untwist the
spinnaker from the top, again without success. After two hours up the forestay,
with moderate success and wind gusts that were reported later up to 57kts I
returned to the deck and attempted to remove the lower part of the spinnaker from
the forestay, again with moderate success. 7 hours fighting flat out to retrieve
what we could of the heavy weight spinnaker the forestay and inner forestay remain
are still not completely clear.

Upon returning to the wheel, I noticed that for the past two hours we had been
sailing due south further into the depression. We tacked around and we are now
sailing towards Ile De Possession en route to the scoring gate and waiting for the
wind to moderate or hoping for a lee beneath the islands before removing the
reminisce of our spinnaker.

This morning at sunrise I was called to the deck as a big brown cloud was
approaching us fast. With two reefs already in the mainsail there was no time to
put a third in before the cloud was upon us, bringing 60kt gusts and the pleasant
supprise of snow.

Porridge and hot tea for breakfast. Everybody onboard is safe and well, no damage
to boat apart from some cloth that used to be a heavy weight spinnaker and a
broken pole and damaged pride. Will conduct further rig checks when conditions
are suitable. For now we are dug in and riding out the storm comfortably and
safely.

Richard Hewson
Goldcoast Australia

LAT 44 02.17S
LONG 140 55.87
DTF 2090
ETA 1800 24

WEATHER CLOUD 2/8 WIND 310@15 BARO 998.6

SKIPPERS BLOG
A Good run for Goldcoast Australia. We are now almost most northerly boat
and we are making best speed for the northern Tasmanian gate. Tomorrow we
should see the rocks of Pedra Blanka sticking out of the water to the
south of Tasmania as we sail past en route to Stewart Island.

The winds over the next week are looking promising to make good speed to
New Zealand and at the moment we are sailing in paradise in the southern
ocean with a moderate 15kt wind, sunny blue skys and flat seas.

As we sail past the southern parts of Tasmaina it would be very tempting
to alter course north into storm bay and sail into home waters. Unlucly
for the other yachts in the race is the fact that my desire to win
overcomes the desire to sail home so we will continue on past Tasmania to
Tauranga NZ.

LAT 44 02.17S
LONG 140 55.87
DTF 2090
ETA 1800 24

WEATHER CLOUD 2/8 WIND 310@15 BARO 998.6

SKIPPERS BLOG
A Good run for Goldcoast Australia. We are now almost most northerly boat
and we are making best speed for the northern Tasmanian gate. Tomorrow we
should see the rocks of Pedra Blanka sticking out of the water to the
south of Tasmania as we sail past en route to Stewart Island.

The winds over the next week are looking promising to make good speed to
New Zealand and at the moment we are sailing in paradise in the southern
ocean with a moderate 15kt wind, sunny blue skys and flat seas.

As we sail past the southern parts of Tasmaina it would be very tempting
to alter course north into storm bay and sail into home waters. Unlucly
for the other yachts in the race is the fact that my desire to win
overcomes the desire to sail home so we will continue on past Tasmania to
Tauranga NZ.

LAT 32 25.7s
LONG 016 57.2W
DTR 3650

SKIPPERS BLOG

What a fantastic day. Sun shining, fair wind, and good racing. It is a
big relief for everybody to be back on the water and sailing after a short
stay in friendly maderia.

Maderia is a fantastic island, and the local people were very freindly and
hospitible, but I think the crew of Goldcoast Australia are happier on the
water sailing togeather and heading to Rio, away from the hussle and
bussle of shore life, deep cleans and maintenance.

Goldcoast had a good start from Madeira and were the first to hoist the
Spinaker as we rounded the first mark under the escort of a tug boat
spraying water into the air, creating a brilliant spectical.

The wind died out under the island, and Goldcoast gybed out onto port
gybe keeping the rest of the fleet to the East.

It is now a drag race for all the boats to get to the scoring gates and
try to gain extra points.

The weather is looking fine for the next week, and Goldcoast is enjoying
the sail. BT

LAT 26 37.2
LONG 040 44.4
DTR 3107
COG 140
SOG 9

SKIPPERS BLOG

Goldcoast Australia is once again in a tussle with Singapore as we fight
our way towards a large pressure belt to the south of our current
position. The winner will get to the wind first, however with only miles
separating us there is not much in it.

Goldcoast has opted to head further south than the rest of the fleet
rather than making earlier gains to the east to enable them to get to the
stronger winds. Once in the stronger winds, we will be able to ease
sheets and literally fly with the wind and surf the waves most of the way
to Capetown.

The initial gains made by the rest of the fleet were slightly more than I
was expecting however there is still a long way to go and it is defiantly
not the first time that Goldcoast has been in this position at this stage
of the race. At this stage of the race its all about making investments
for the future in Goldcoast Australia!