BT diary - Andy McGrath on LG Flatron

On the wind at last and moving up the leader board

We are currently at an angle of heel of 30 degrees. We have the number two yankee, staysail and main with two reefs. It is great to get sailing again properly. These boats perform so well upwind it is yet again a joy to be on the helm.
We have moved up the leader board - at last! - and are currently in third place, a more familiar Flatron position. Morale on the boat is good with full foul weather gear being worn. Our Gill smocktops have been taken out of our curver boxes like old friends!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday saw us sailing in frustratingly light airs up the western coast of Africa. On Monday we were only two miles off Dakar and could clearly see the city lights in the night sky. We have been sailing in close proximity to CGU and Isle of Man over the last couple of days. We have since pulled out a few miles away from them.

As we have been so close to land we have had red Saharan sand over the boat and also a couple of visits from land birds. The birds settle on the boat for about 30 minutes resting their wings before flying off to who knows where. Now we are settled back to life on the rail and sleeping on the high side instead of 'split forward' or down to leeward we can look back on the frustrations of changing conditions meaning you have to hoist a spinnaker only to drop it before the headsail has hit the deck because the wind has changed and other such incidents!

The last time we were beating upwind was in the southern Indian Ocean and times have certainly changed since then. Last but not least, who won the inter watch airmiles competition? The other watch did (stbd) who were helped to a great degree by Cliff 'Pit Bull' Scott who used to live in Ghana. Needless to say he aced us on the general knowledge quiz, not that I am bitter or anything!

All the best, Andrew