Atlantic letters

Former Pindar teammates Miranda Merron and Emma Richards report from the TJV monohull and multihull fleets still racing

Miranda Merron reports from on board Un Univers de Services:
The Doldrums: we thought we had got through without too much trouble, down to the supposedly safer zone of 6N, but there was an enormous bank of cumulus which we couldn't quite escape from.

It provided the usual fun and games - no wind followed by 25+ knots, massive header and torrential rain. The last bit was good as it has enabled us to restock our water supply, but the stuff is a little salty, since it got a couple of waves in it. Good for cooking pasta anyway.

On Friday night when most sensible people are in the pub or somewhere warm and dry, we were getting lashed by squall after squall, getting pushed further west and away from the 5N line we were desperate to cross.

Eventually we were released from the clutches of this evil cloud, and progressed UPWIND southwest, laying somewhere like French Guiana rather than Brazil.

Last night the wind backed allowing us to head where we want to go. This, along with crossing the equator at 0720 today has been good for morale. We don't think we can hold Sollac off for much longer on boat speed, but we try. This being a French boat, we offered some good Beaujolais to the king of the sea, and then offered ourselves some too. It was a magnificent dawn.

We had a visitor for most of the night - one bird perched on the windward lifelines with 20 knots apparent wind up its beak. This fearless creature squawked raucously any time one of its ilk was foolish enough to approach the boat and sat happily one foot away from me while I was steering. I don't think it's the first time it has hitched a ride.

Brazil has appeared on the electronic chart, so we can't be too far away now. About 880 miles to go to the finish, which is not much when part of a 4300 mile race.

In a couple of days we might have to start making the boat look a little more respectable... before that though, we need to sail fast, faster within the limits of what we have. 12 knots boat speed just isn't enough when you know the others are at 14-15 knots.

Miranda
un univers de services

This morning Miranda and Fred Brule had 349 miles to go to the finish