Action on board PUMA on leg 7 to Galway. Image copyright Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing.
by Kenny Read (skipper)
THREE BOAT LENGTHS! That was the difference between first and second at the scoring gate. T-Blue just nipped us out, sailing a really good last 12 hours and having just a touch of speed on us in the lighter air. Believe me, we tried to push them back but to no avail. They actually did a really nice job.
For sure it was the closest racing amongst a larger number of boats that we have had to date. I didn't think the racing could get closer. And all to get to a scoring gate that is in essence a random longitude line chosen by the race organizers. Why they didn't use the bottom corner of the ice exclusion zone is beyond me? The thing is, the longitude line came before the bottom of the ice gate we now have to beat for 180 miles to get south around the exclusion zone, and all that hard work to get to the scoring gate first. Upon crossing the scoring gate we had to tack immediately or be disqualified for going into the ice exclusion zone. T-Blue and PUMA immediately went from first and second to fifth and sixth. It’s like playing a good golf on a bad golf course. Good golfers always refer to good courses as ones that reward good shots. This course did not reward a good shot. There is a bunker in the middle of the fairway and our drive that was right down the middle is in the trap.
So now we have to play catch up- completely different mentality! The mood on board is quite up beat as we needed a good result at that gate to get some of our momentum back. Momentum has not been our friend the last month or so, and it is time to grab it by the throat.
And finally the temperature is getting a bit warmer- the fog is even clearing. Have to thank all of our friends at PUMA for the gear one more time. I had six layers on for two days straight and was comfy warm. New boots are glamour by the way. We still have dry feet as well which is a wonderful thing. Ah the little things in life…
As we beat around the exclusion zone, all eyes will be out for ice as well as the competition. We don't need to find an iceberg right about now. We came within about 10 feet of a really angry whale this morning and that is as close as we need to be to something that can damage our craft.
PUMA Ocean Racing
Volvo Ocean Race
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