23/10/10 18:00
Class One: Esimit Europa 2 is in pole position on the water with ICAP Leopard stalking them a mile astern. Alegre lead the chasing pack. Black Pearl has taken up the most easterly of the entire fleet. The wind close to the Sicilian shore is due to fade as the night sets in. The leading boats will be looking to get through this area as quickly as possible before it does. If they make it through to the Strait of Messina, the could well be a funnel effect strengthening the wind
Class Two: Pace leads the class and is beginning to take a more offshore line. Lucky and Cantankerous are also passed Capopassero. It is unlikely that all of the yachts in Class Two will have any chance of getting through the calmer waters that are forecast to make the Strait. Varuna has taken up the most easterly position of the class, presumably to take advantage of more offshore breeze later on tonight.
Class Three: La Foresta del Mar is the clear leader with Mandalino second place on the water. Ars Una is the most easterly yacht in the class. Virtually the entire fleet is east of the Rhum Line.
Class Four: Artie and Ton Ton Surfside are virtually abreast at the front of the class, many more of these boats have taken up an easterly position, some however may decide to ‘cut the corner’ and hug the coast of Sicily. These smaller boats can get right up to the shoreline and may benefit from wind draining off the land in the cool of night.
As the sun sets, the crew of the 76 yachts competing in the race will be checking lines and sails in the last light before their first night at sea.
Email from John Brinkers aboard E1.
“Its 6pm and we’re reaching along in light air on starboard with the Furling A1 up with Capo Murro di Porco in front of us. To port is the island of Sicily. We can see a bay (its not named on our map) which we’ve named The Bay of Death as I’ve been told by so many sailors to avoid it at all costs. Apparently lots of boats get trapped there in light air, but so far we’ve avoided it.
Dinner (hot stew) has been served, and its fired the crew up to give chase to Alegre, about 1.5miles ahead. We can also still see Esmit Europe and Icap Leopard about 6 miles ahead. We are just tidying up the boat now, getting ourselves ready for the night ahead. JB”