24/10/10 15:20
Johnny Vincent’s TP52, Pace, is having a close battle with boats on the water, as navigator, Mike Broughton explains via satellite link:
We are presently four miles south of Stromboli gybing on the shifts and playing nip and tuck with Wild Joe and and the other TP 52 – Lucky who have us on corrected time at the moment.
We had a great race up until about 0600 this morning when we parked up with most of the rest of the fleet 15 miles east of Catania. After a short lived windy run through the Messina Straits, we are now sailing in light airs just three miles behind E1 and Alegre.
Weather looks light until we see the approach of the cold front which should pass us about 1800 on Monday. Conditions then look lively and will make it a quick remainder of the race – could well be ‘fresh to frightening’ for a short while for a few boats. It looks as if umbrellas could be useful!
Our only drama and breakage so far has been to the port upper bunk that has broken. The finger of blame is being pointed at ‘Fumsey’ – the ‘honourable member for Hamble west’, but he is denying it profusely!
He has however voluntarily helped mend it. Spirits are still high and the boat forever pretty wet down below.
cheers
Micky B