Reaching the finish line..

After leaving Montserrat to port, we headed to Guadeloupe. This call (by Francesco) proved to be quite effective and few competitors dared to do the same. Our aim was to approach Guadeloupe island quite wide to avoid getting stuck into this big island wind shadow.  Navigation brief of Sunday, our purposes, our ideas were all right and clear in avoiding getting stuck in a no wind zone. No wonder: we found us at 0.00 kts with staysail deployed and wind seeker celebrating any speed above 0.2 kts. Around us a couple of yachts more ashore and farther away alternated accelerations and stops. Fighting to leave the no wind zone, regretting the lack of land breeze (not available in the Caribbean due to the little difference in temperature between the land and the sea), everybody started wondering if we should have passed more ashore or farther away. Land was well lighted by many spots, while stars were still very visible: I had the strong feeling they were enjoying the view of these 50 yachts, at least 500 crews playing with sails, rudders, instruments for hours to cross this tricky couple of miles.

It took us about 1 hour and a half to start sailing fast again. It could have been much worst. It was good for the crews off-watch who  could enjoy a flat yacht for a while.

Good fun again sailing upwind to clear the island and reaching to Barbuda buoy. Actually, not too much fun as the next watch spent few hours under heavy rain. Lucky enough I came back on watch again at 6 o’Clock just in time to appreciate a deck with no salt, soft sheets, clean…thus still little wet foul weather gears etc. No sun and heavy showers all around welcomed me on deck. No complain: soon after Sophie came up offering yogurt, fruit, toasts and … what would you expect by a French chef?.....croissants! I forgot to mention the night before a Nutella crepes were served!

The leg to Bermuda was extremely fast and fun. Roberto at the helm  top up 16,8 kts with me trimming the kite. Igor, Kirill and Andrea stayed just above 16 kts. A2 did a good job for many hours until a damage, most likely occurred in the last hoist, appeared evident. Luff line in spectra looked exposed and soon after it was clear it was broken. An A2 in these conditions could probably fail on the leach, but could eventually survive. Trying to be soft on the sheet and on the helm we managed to postpone its premature departure. Lazy weather sheet was passed on a block ready for a  quick drop in case of failure.

A little delay of the trimmer in accompanying a gust ended up the gennaker life: head remained well attached to the halyard while the rest of the 650 sqm fell down in the water. No worries: weather sheet was pulled in, and all available hands on deck started recovering, quietly and steadily, the gennaker starting from the tack, same as we were wooling the kite, but for the tack and not from the head. Few minutes and the bottom part of the kite was on deck again. In the meantime Carlos got ready for an uncomfortable, and potentially rather dangerous, ride on top of the mast.  Carlos was hoisted on a spare halyard with a retriever line to hold him safely close to the mast in case he lost grip. Head recovery would have been too dangerous and tricky, therefore we greeted it while it was falling into the water.

With Carlos safely on deck A3 started working again bringing us (slightly underpowered) to Barbuda.

From Barbuda to Redonda bigger sails would have helped, but we could not complain. Weather was good again, pasta with shrimps and rocket salad was served to the stand-by crews and hours passed fast. Redonda approach just before sunset was fantastic. Igor at the helm carefully followed the advises of Andrea and Francesco and quickly rounded the island. This was the time for another couple of records: 2 of our professional crews experienced a new emotion for the first time in their life. Something that  they could not experience racing on other yachts, not even America’s Cup ones: they had proper hot showers. It was pleasant to see them back on deck with soft and voluminous hair. Offshore sailing is not always pain and suffering.

Francesco commented “Besides the pleasure of sailing in such a water on a wonderful yacht, I finally had the opportunity to experience the concept of “racing with comfort”: a hot shower during a regatta is something I shall add on my CV”.

Last leg in the darkness to Antigua was sailing on close beating angles. Being only few hours from the arrival, watches stopped and more people enjoyed the great sailing. Lorenzo supported the helmsman for hours, helping with advises, comments and calling the corrections on the waves and gusts. A little crowd of crew hiked out around Lorenzo to benefit of such a class!

Rounding the south of Antigua, leaving her on port was cool with wind from South East. It is easy to understand this rounding is not comfortable with North Easterly. Few more tacks and we arrived!