Sunday 1300hrs and EH01 is battling her way up the straights of Messina with around 25NM to go to the top. Progress is, as expected, rather slow with winds at around 190T – 200T and soft at 6- 8 knots.
Lots of racers around us, all making slow progress and seemingly choosing various tactics to find wind across this stretch of the course.
GRY’s Russian charter crew enjoyed the start yesterday, we managed to ‘get the pin’ and made it across first only to sail into a small hole, but overall a great start and the guys did well with the first kite hoist and subsequent douse at the Rolex marks.
For most on board last night was there first night sailing experience and for many this is the first time racing offshore so a steep learning curve and plent to do for Skipper Andy, and Mates Matt and Gareth to keep the boat running and crew enthusiasm up.
Thoughts inevitably turning to the rest of the course and the light winds still forecast, prognosis is not good for an early finish!
TTFN
Andy (skipper – EH01)