Paul Cayard's Whitbread Log
Leg 7: Ft. Lauderdale to Baltimore
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We are
in a "full race" watch system, which means eight people on deck at
all times . . . not a lot of sleep in the next 60 hours.
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Day 1 - April 19, 1998
Place: 3rd; distance behind 1st-place boat: 0.2 miles
Miles to Baltimore: 740
From: Paul Cayard, Skipper, EF Language
It has been 9 hours since the start and thanks to the current we have already clicked off 130 miles.
The start was fairly ordinary for Whitbread starts, downwind.
Toshiba won the start with Kvaerner right behind them and
ourselves next. The problem was that none of us could cross
Chessie and Silk Cut when it came time to gybe for the "gate" that
we had to pass between. It was a tight squeeze for some, Brunel
and Toshiba almost hit. Chessie led the way followed by Silk,
Toshiba, Brunel then ourselves.
Shortly after that we worked our way past Toshiba and Kvaerner.
We all reached out to the stronger current of the Gulf Stream,
where we found 4.5 knots of northerly flow. Once the fleet
squared up for deeper angle running, Merit took off and went to
the front next to Chessie.
The fleet was waiting for a lift from the cold front, but it never
came. So, now we are all on port tack heading back into the
stream, having sailed out of it waiting for the lift. This let
Swedish Match back into the game from her last-place position
earlier.
My guess is that this leg will constantly be like that; all boats
bunched up, with some making small gains here and there. Probably
the last lead change will occur in the Chesapeake, how far up I
don't know. Maybe right in front of Fort McHenry.
No mishaps or damage to report. Dinner was sandwiches. We are
in a "full race" watch system, which means eight people on deck at
all times . . . not a lot of sleep in the next 60 hours. That is ok — I am told they have nice beds in Baltimore.
