Friday 13th - I’m not superstitious, but I don’t like it!

I approached yesterday with some trepidation, it was after all Friday 13th and even though I am a completely unsuperstitous person, there is just something about that day and date together (maybe the repeated mention that something bad is going to happen on every Friday 13th through my whole life) that makes me wish the day to be over more quickly than any others.

I pushed hard through the early hours of the morning, aware we had a ridge of light winds to cross, and trying to squeeze every mile possible out of the preceding breeze. It was fun, Medallia was flying and I was feeling the full benefit of our summer refit, outriggers on, new pilot taking everything in its stride and the sail plan, well balanced, fast but not overpowering.

By the time the sun rose, the breeze was already failing, we coasted as far as we could - like when you peddle hard on the downhill section of a hill, hoping your momentum will propel you through the dip and take some of the sting out of the next section of uphill. Mid-morning when the wind died, I decided to use the time to organise myself and to do some of the outstanding maintenance that had made its way to the job list over the last week.

It's got a lot warmer in the last 24 hours and it's finally time to change out of my thermals. So I took the time to have a shower in the cockpit, then change to my next set of clothes - marked 'warm weather' on their vacuum bag. Now that is exciting. I cleaned and sorted the living accommodation, then got out my rigging kit to do some work on the deck. Most notably to put a new cover on the tack line of the J3 which had chewed through in only five days of sailing. This is something I clearly need to watch.

I had also noticed in my post-front inspection that the tie back elastics on the second set of spreaders had broken. It had been niggling at me as it didn't seem right to just ignore this one week into the race but I did not want to go aloft if I could help it. I had a brief WhatsApp conversation with Joff and decided it would be a good job done and in the light, flat sailing conditions it was unlikely I would have as good an opportunity to do this job.

I hate climbing the rig at sea, it is utterly terrifying and I guess secretly I was hoping I would not have to do it during the Vendee, certainly not in the first week. But I gathered myself, made an internal deal that if I was really scared half way up I could come down and not worry about it. I messaged Joff to let him know I was on my way up then climbed. Quickly.

By the time I was at the second set of spreaders my hands were shaking, my breath was rapid, my mouth was dry but bloody hell I did it. All the time Medallia was gently sailing along, I was talking to it, urging it to keep steady, heel no more and no less, just keep sailing. The descent was better than I had expected, I've done some practice with my climbing device so the shock of the first time you release the brake and start falling was not so bad but I was glad to get to the deck.

I was shaking for about half an hour afterwards.

Through tonight the breeze has slowly built and I am trying hard to stay in it and jump onto the back of tropical depression Theta to use the stronger winds to get me south. It shows the split in the fleet that the front foilers (and Mr Le Cam - hats off!) had to go wide west to avoid the worst of the breeze while the older generation boats are trying to catch up with the system to use it to their advantage.

Tomorrow I am going to have to try hard to get some miles to leeward to ensure my positioning is right.

There is a lot to remember at the moment, job lists, checks, media commitments so I have taken to writing notes to myself on the bulkhead in front of the computer station. Here I can clearly see the last times I check the keel and rudders (needs to be done every two days) and my job list is scrawled along the bottom next to where I put my beanbag to sleep.

I can't believe today is the last day of a full week. Wow! And all this has happened. What on earth will happen next?

Pip

 

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