LAT 11 53.0N
LONG 078 38.4W
DTW 562nm
DTF 1763
ETA 0600Z 27 MAY 12
COG 020
SOG 8
WEATHER WIND 109@14kts, Sea Mod, Swell NE 2m, Cloud 3/8 Cl, Baro 1006
Gold Coast Australia is off to a magnificent start in Race 11 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from Panama to New York.
After a good start we were making good progress on a beam reach until the wind backed around prematurely resulting in us being on the wrong side of the course to make maximum gain from the wind shift. Gold Coast Australia was quick to pick the shift however, and re trimmed the boat quickly to take maximum advantage over the boats around us. As a result we managed to lee bow Visit Finland before climbing higher than the other yacht and with good speed to find ourselves having a good hustle with the other Australian Boat Geraldton Western Australia. It is a lot of fun racing against the other Aussies and at the moment we just can not seem to over take them.
Gold Coast Australia tried overtaking Geraldton Western Australia first to windward without success, and now we are trying to go for more speed and take them to leeward.
The wind is expected to increase and continue to back over the next few hours and it looks like we will be almost close hauled for most of the race to the windward passage where we hope to gain some tactical advantage over the rest of the fleet.
On the whole it is fantastic to be racing again, and the conditions are near perfect at the moment making for some very enjoyable sailing. The crew is enthusiastic and the closeness of the racing with the other boats around us makes things very exciting. Go Gold Coast!
Richard Hewson