This next leg seems strange for some reason, oh that's right, it is because a weak low pressure system has developed and the sun has gone and so has the 15 knot NW breeze.
We mill about looking for the best place to start today's race. The left side is favored as it closer to where we want to go by about 1/2 a mile, but the right side has some inflow breeze.
We practice putting the kite and decide that a middle start is best and as soon as possible will try the kite.
As predicted the rigth won out and a few of our boats screamed away while others sat going no where. We were in the middle.......After about an hour we finally cross the start line and are starting to get the kite filled. Finally we feel we might be able to make some hay in the race.
After about 3 more hours we have moved up and only one boat is ahead of us but we have only gone 3 miles. This doesn't look good. We slowly start to see and hear boats dropping out. In this race if 50% of the boats that start do not finish the leg will not be scored.
Lunch comes and goes and we are passed by Kiva. Normally this wouldn't surprise us but he did so going backwards! At 1:00 it seemed that like everyone had the same feeling and the iron lungs were tunred on. We had better that 22 miles to go and only 4 hours or so to do it.....racing for today was over.
A few competitors however got themselves in hot water as they broke a safety rule in that you need to carry enough fuel to power yourself to the next port. With today's technology on board, the trackers didn't lie and you couldn't hide the facts. Boats were turning back, going to other ports and even one had fuel delivered to them. Needless to say a few harsh words were spoken that night at the awards ceremony.
Port Hardy see's a lot of new crew arrive, so is the half way point of the race. The so called " easy legs " are done and now we head off shore!
First up - "THE BAR"
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