Team Russia Leg Two Day 6 QFB: received 20.11.08 1159 GMT
Very happy with the 2.5 points we just picked up at the scoring longitude of 58E and boat, sails and crew in one piece. We had lots of discussion during the preparation period about the concept of the boat and, to be honest, it feels very good to sit on a solid boat in the midst of the Southern Ocean. I would be surprised if we were the only boat that broached heavily and certainly not the last.
Of course there is a certain luck factor not to break anything, but a solid boat helps as well. Also, during some of the bigger leaps with the A6 and the Q9 we did in the bigger waves, there were no scary noises from the structure of the boat, just the big bangs when you slam on the water with 30 knots, which is scary and deafening by itself.
Everybody is glad we pointed the bow north as this promises warmer and, finally, drier weather. Being constantly wet and cold is tiring, I must admit. Already the northwest wind we are sailing in feels less chilly than the southwesterly we had for the last few days.
The next days will be quite interesting from a strategic point of few. We not only managed to pick up points at the gate, but also set up in the position we want to be to skirt around the high-pressure system in the north. Having the right wind speed and angle is critical even though the fleet will be compressed later on. This could well change and at the end, you want to come out of the compression as much ahead as possible, so no holding back and relaxing, foot on the floor.
Off for another round of bailing water out which constantly finds its way into the boat.
Andreas Hanakamp – skipper