Sleeping onboard Delta Lloyd, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston. Image copyright Sander Pluijm/Delta Lloyd/Volvo Ocean Race.
by Wouter Verbraak (navigator)
It's got that Monday morning feeling to it.
Well, it looks like our weekend fun is coming to an end. We had an absolute blast with the speedo doing overtime clocking 23, 24, 25 knots under loud cheers from us on deck. From today that is all going to change. It really got that Monday morning feeling to it.
We are speed junkies without speed, drag racers with their perfect race track turned into a sandy road. I am sorry, but 17 knots of boatspeed just doesn't have that same adrenaline kick to it.
The weather ahead looks complicated too, which means I am stuck downstairs in the office. Forget the fun blast reaching; bring in lighter winds, confused weather models and nervous navigators and skippers. The weather models look so horrible that I am contemplating making lots of coffees for the guys, going on deck to help the guys out, check the clouds etc. Anything to get me away from the computer and the horrible stuff it is spitting out at me. Hey, stop that!
Hang on. Actually the difficult weather is perfect for us! It means opportunities to get some miles back on the big guys that have been making gain after gain in the high speed drag race. Difficult choices will have to be made, and not everybody is going to have it right. Also, Lady Fortuna is likely to through her dice and give us some unexpected curve balls.
Light winds first to the east, than in the west. High pressure bubbles with no wind and fronts with squalls and big wind changes. I am sure it is going to be an exciting game to watch over the next five days. Better go back to work and find a good way through.
Volvo Ocean Race
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