LAT 12 21.0N
LONG 113 37.4E
DTF 1480
ETA 0600 21 Feb 12
WEATHER WIND 025@16-20kts, Sea Rough 1m, Swell N1m, Clound 4/8 Cl Cb, Baro 1013.9
Gold Coast Australia earned two extra points as we apparently crossed the scoring gate in second place last night. Only
hours before crossing the scoring gate the wind veered 50 degrees to the east, so the best option was to tack towards the
gate. Geraldton got the same shift and as they were north of us at the time passed through the gate 40 minutes before us.
Our position across the scoring gate is yet to be confirmed as we were not sure where DLL was at the time however when we
picked them up on AIS a few hours after crossing the gate they were very close its 12 degrees latitude and therefore one can
only presume they were third across. At this mornings sked none of the other boats in the fleet had crossed through the scoring gate.
As soon as we crossed the scoring gate the wind resumed its normal NNE direction and we tacked back to the east. We are now
sailing low groove for best speed to windward trying to get to the eastern side of the course as the wind is expected to veer to the east over the next 20-48 hours.
This mornings sked had us back in first position on the leader board, and at the present time we are drag racing DLL who are
6nm to our south east trying to over take them before the wind shifts to the east. Geraldton seem to have carried on to he
north after the scoring gate opting for a different tactic and it will be interesting to see how it pans out for them as
there are a number of different tactical strategies for this phase of the race and there is not much separating them in
distance or time to the next waypoint near Taiwan. Weather changes daily and the difference in the forecasts could mean
that they have made the right move, but all the information currently available to us tells me to sail east and then up the cost of the Philippines.
This area has many fishing boats and poorly marked nets. As I began writing my blog I heard the sickening sound of an
object scraping past the side of the hull and was called to the deck to see a line of floats dissapearing in our wake.
Hopefully none got caught up on our underwater appendages, no doubt joining other nets and lines that we have unknowingly
run over since the start of the race. Fishermen are quite friendly and will often motor towards you to have a look at these
massive racing yachts as they sail past. I can only imagine what they must think and guess that they would not see too many sailing yachts like this racing through here.
For now we just need to hold onto No1 position and not make any more mistakes or take our minds off the game. As far as im
concerned we have just received our get out of jail free card, and now we must be fully focused on winning this race.