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Maiden 2 Update - Ahead of record pace

by Mark Bullingham 15 Apr 2002 17:18 BST

Navigators Update

It has been an extremely difficult morning. After the last 24 hours of tradewinds and average SOG of 16-18kts we are now faced with squalls and no wind. Our average over the four days since the start has bee 15.7Kts.

Our position is 26 02N 28 41W
SOG 15-20kts
Distance to finish: 2,495nm
Distance since start: 1,416nm
Average speed since start: 15.7kts
Speed required to break record: 15.74kts

Forecast: is for continued squall activity for another 100nm west. This will disrupt tradewinds which hopefully will settle back in on Tuesday at 15-17kts NE.

Heading is 230 and our plan is to try and make some more south, as the centre of the Azores High also moves further south to 30N making lighter air from 26N-30N.

Now some 330nm miles behind the position of Club Med at the same time. It was on Day 4 that Club Med set their 24 hour record of 625nm. Club Med subsequently had a slower pace then into San Salvador, so on our schedule we now have some making up of time to do.

Adrienne Cahalan

Crew Update

Well, after a rather harsh awakening to multihull sailing on day one, we have now been nursed into the pleasures of it all, sailing all day with the big "womper" of a Gennaker, in perfect tradewind like conditions with the sea turning a deeper shade of blue on each watch.

Being a Sunday today Sam and I felt sorry for our shore crew at the Maiden II Office, thinking we are 2 lucky chicks to be able to put on the shorts and head up on deck to take the helm of this magnificent maxi cat. We know where we rather be! Not what we were thinking that on the first night out when we were helming in bad seas with something like a fire hose hitting you painfully in the face every second. It was so bad that I actually ,in the end, kept my eyes shut - something I have not told the crew yet - in fear of loosing my street cred and everyone's faith in my driving!

"Having just been in the South Atlantic racing to Brazil in the Jacques Vabre on a 60 ft trimaran I have to admit that the lightness and fast acceleration of the little sister Pindar was still fresh on my mind and felt that I missed it ,but after driving this giant at 30+ knots of speed the same thrill is there and I feel at home again." - Mikaela.

"I was also racing to Brazil at the end of last year, but in the smallest offshore boat there is - the Mini Transat (12 feet long!). It has been a culture shock for me to jump from the smallest boat to one of the biggest and fastest racing machines there is. I am still adjusting to the speed and power that we are harnessing to catapult us over the ocean! I am also getting used to sailing with a big crew again! It is lovely to sail alone, but I am enjoying being part of a great team now. It is nice to have people around to work with, share the fun with, and make the dinner!" - Sam

Now to the more important daily matters. Kev eventually made his move from the radar post today, having now been warned by several female members of the crew that the radiation was not good for his reproductive health, and is now occupying a much safer (and sociable) position on the starboard morse controls at the steering pedestal. This has many benefits for Kev, one of them being that he manages to get a lot more offerings of snacks etc from the drivers and seeing as the supplies of Eucalyptus are now drying out this is a good thing.

On the same subject of food, we have been keeping an eye out for the start of the flying fish attacks, because you are travelling at 30 knots and so is the fish, you can imagine that the speed of impact is painfully high. Fortunately there have been no sightings yet. However, we have been a target for the flying squid instead, and Helena and our Corsican chef Stan have been seen collecting the little rubbery missiles and we will not be surprised if one of the future meals is Calamari! I guess it will make a nice change from the freeze-dried food. So far I haven't found the Tartare sauce though.

Mikaela Von Koskull & Sam Davies

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