Atlantic - tick

Paul Larsen (maxicatdoha.com) brings us up to date with the state of affairs on board Doha 2006 in the Oryx Quest

Well that was the Atlantic that was. For us aboard Doha 2006 it was a pretty easy passage with a steady string of 500+ mile days. The big cat seemed to sit on such steady average speeds that it felt like a power boat without the noise and smell. We have had the 'speed police' come on decks a few times to reign in the pace in the name of preservation. All the boat itself wants to do is party to destruction and would gladly do so with a whiff of wind and the smallest lack of good ol' adult(ish) supervision.

Although so many aspects of a modern circumnavigations are reduced, every now and then you still get a rush of appreciation as to just how big this planet is to sail around. I was watching the wake being steadily fired out the back and realised that I have been watching this spectacle for the majority of the 42 or so days since we left. We have been constantly vacuuming up ocean horizons for what still seems like a long time, especially when you live every second, and there are still a large amount to come. It's a time of slight resignation onboard. We are not going to burn home at 20 knots all the way. After a great run we have finally hit a lengthy period of fickle weather just as we were getting our minds set for the home stretch up the Indian Ocean. The descent back into the south was gradual and although we knew it was going to happen, an element of wishful thinking still prevented us from pulling on the appropriate cold weather clothing until it was unavoidable. Next thing we knew we were looking out for icebergs again!!!

Estimates were made of days left to the finish but the weather maps showed that it wasn't going to be the plain sailing that we had been experiencing. Yesterday we sailed on a breeze no-one predicted, from a direction that no-one expected. This makes it difficult to know whether or not it is taking you in the right direction or not as you wait for the weather models to catch up with the reality. Are we in a ridge, a high, a low? Is it the front? Nope, it's a little low which has formed in a ridge of High pressure!!! Ahh, that old classic.

So as all these weak little systems flitter around we are literally stuck in a wet fog, re-actively sailing, trying to find a way through. The answer isn't obvious as the pieces keep moving. It's painful not to be making many good miles. All we have to do now is finish. That is our race and our focus. This current system would have made a great leveller if the other two big boats were still here. I think that the lead we would have held over Cheyenne would have evaporated quite quickly. There would be plenty of options open for people to take calculated guesses and create seperation. Oh well, in this respect we certainly should be grateful. The major glaring issue with these boats and what is trying to be achieved in these events is the fact that these big multihulls constantly struggle to maintain even a 50% reliability record in non-stop round the world races/record attempts.

The boats are no doubt big, fast and spectacular but as far as fleet racing goes on a course of this magnitude... well it's not going to happen until the boats are more reliable. How this is brought about is an open debate. For sure it will take vision and management to succeed and we are all hoping that the seed that has been planted here and now in this Oryx Cup will bear the fruit of great future events.

In the next few days we will be heading for the warmth and longing for the coolness of the south. That's the way it goes. As long as it goes quickly. The possibility of a lengthy 'bash' upwind is looking more and more likely as sooner or later we are going to have to turn North and deal with whatever waits. Can't hide down here forever. It's not a nice thought when all we want to do is nurse the boat to the finish as gently and quickly as possible. It's a further reminder that it is definitely not over yet.

Paul.
Photo caption (from Paul) Fraser Brown styles out in that timeless little Southern Ocean number... The Musto HPX suit. Fraser says that it's the Chanel No 5 of offshore sailing apparell. We hope for the sake of a healthy evolution of the species that like Ms Monroe and the famous No. 5 that this here sealed suit is also the only thing that Mr. Brown wears to bed.(note, some liberties may have been taken by the author as to what FB was actually garbelling through five layers of Goretex as said author did not want to appraoch too close lest a seal on the suit was to give way and spill forth the contents of one watches worth of currently contained substances. Those who know FB will understand. Anyway, he got a speeding ticket a couple of minutes afterwards *Also-see notes on adult..ish supervision) which raises the question of how one can now sleep peacefully below knowing that this... thing is at the helm?