Telefonica update

Bouwe Bekking on progress with their two boating

Both Telefonica boats have been zigzagging over the Med, but always within a close distance as if they were attached by a bungee cord. We managed to do yesterday over 35 tests between the two boats, with several sail combinations and sailing different angles. Each test takes nine minutes. The testing is intense, as we need to get the maximum out of them. As well there is element that you don’t want to get beaten by the other boat who keeps the guys fully concentrating. We have instruments (telemetry) were both boats can read exactly the numbers from the electronics from the other boat. Some tests have to get abandoned as for example one boat has more wind than the other, which of course influences the outcome of the test. As we well we have to assure that the helmsman doesn’t 'cheat', as there are ways to win a test easily. The distance between the two boats is always done in the same way, and of course this means swapping around the other boat position as well, going from the right side to the left side relatively to our boat.

Last night the wind died to nearly zero knots, and we made hardly progress, but the breeze has picked up again a bit, but a thick fog rolled in. We can hear the other boat working their winches and can hear sometimes their voices, but they are out of sight. I personally like this kind of sailing, just the ocean swell, but flat on the surface, and going a couple of knots faster than the wind speed. These boats amaze me every time.

Everybody has adapted well to the watch systems, and it looks each person is getting plenty of sleep. The bunks are big and comfortable, but not the space. The height to the deck is limited, since we have the deep cockpit. If you are claustrophobic, then his boat is the wrong place for you, either you find a new job somewhere else or just fall asleep quickly, once you sleep, you don’t notice this any more.

Everything is done for speed. So not to much space downstairs, but the cockpit layout is fantastic, easy to move the sails around, perfect positions to check the sail trim as you can walk all the way down to the rail. As well it is reducing the windage of the sails once they are all laying to the windward side. All this kind of things will help us go a little faster.

The toilet onboard is a little beauty, and gets used often. Luckily there is no too much water over the decks, so the hatches are open to keep the fresh air coming in. You use the toilet you have privacy, but your mates have to up with the smell or you hang over the rail in view of everybody, so no complains from downstairs. Through this kind of thing you learn quickly a lot about personalities.

The wind is stable enough again for testing, so up on deck. Over and out…

Cheers,

Bouwe Bekking