ARC 2007 - The Final Chapter
Show on Map“Taking the weather with you” to “Ain’t that a Kick in the Head” by Dean Martin.
Our 29th wedding anniversary today and you could cut the air with a knife. Motoring and still racing we can only assume every yacht around us is having the same conditions. Our secret weapon now is fuel. The reason for the cruising division being able to motor is that they do want you to get there and it is a very long way. Handicapping for motoring is based on a fast or slow race; no one knows that till the end.
Day 14. Not a very happy day as we try to find some wind. We went from trying to out run rain squalls to chasing them in a matter of 24 hours. The Eastern wave that went through during the day has caused a lot of damage to yachts and now has sucked all the air away from this area. Just our luck!
Day 15. 9th Dec. Becalmed this morning after a valiant night of going north to find wind, unsuccessful we start motoring. Inspecting the rig Ian notices the starboard lower is very slack and realising that something is wrong discovers that the port lower spreader base has collapsed. Not wanting to put the rig in any danger of going over the side our racing is over. Securing the rig with inner forestay and lines to the affected area as best we can we will now motor the 280 miles to the finish line. Remembering we are still in the race and will now go for a good position over the line.
After working so hard to get into such a good position it is soul destroying to have to finish in this way especially after all the effort put in by all the crew. So much preparation went into ensuring that we were race ready and our strategy was going to plan and now it is all over. It’s been a very long and exhausting two weeks at sea, we never expected to do so well, only wanting to get a good result to be proud of. “You can take the boy out of racing but you can’t take racing out of the boy”. It is after all only a Rally. ‘Cape Finisterre’ has excelled herself and Ian is thrilled at the way she has performed.
Everyone on board is fit and healthy, and at last being able to have more than 2 during happy hour. All are looking forward to land fall tomorrow evening.