LAT 43 26.4N
LONG 044 47.6W
DTF 1637
ETA 1800z 29 Jun 12
SOG 9.2
COG 065
WEATHER Wind 137@17kts, Sea Mod, Swell E 1m, Cloud 2/8, Baro 1020
It has been four seasons in one day for Gold Coast Australia, ranging from hot and sunny with no wind to cold and wet sail changes and reefs in the rain as squalls pass over.
The day began as we concentrated on making ground to the east in moderate variable wind conditions under a cloud of dense fog. As the sun rose we saw the amazing shape of a sun trying to burn through the fog, and to top it off, even a bit of blue sky. By mid morning the sun was out in force, and the sky was clear giving us a fantastic story of the weather surrounding us.
The wind began to veer in oscillations at midday, and we spent the next few hours taking our way towards the scoring gate with every change in wind direction. Finally the wind dropped out all together leaving us becalmed and rolling in the ocean.
Some maintenance was required on the mainsail to re-enforce some battens and adjust the leach line, so we took the opportunity of the lull to carry out this maintenance while we sailed slowly along with only the windseeker up, assisted by about two knots of current. With everybody allocated a separate task it wasnt long before all the maintenance was done and the mainsail re-hoisted, our kangaroo displaying proudly.
An hour later the wind began to fill in from the South East, and we hoisted our light weight spinnaker and charged north towards the clouds. Just before we hit the sqully looking clouds, down came the spinnaker and up went the Y1, which was shortly replaced by the Y2 and a reef.
Throughout the night Gold Coast Australia has been pounding towards the scoring gate on the rhumb line to Derry London-derry with a Y2 headsail and a reefed mainsail. It is amazing to think that earlier today we were sat becalmed in mirror seas and now we display a show of breaking waves and power as we charge to windward.
It has definalty been a busy day on Gold Coast Australia but the miles made on the rest of the fleet have undoubtedly been worth it.