The return of the wind
For those who were stuck on Saturday, Sunday came back with some wind: Guy went from big spinnaker and full main to yankee & reefed main, he will get cross seas for the wind rotation SW to NW with wind all day. Elliott will be downwind in good pressure again, thinking about his RTW mates, who are continuing their journey, and Michael, finally out of the Tasman Sea, will be soon back to over 100 nm averages per day!
Jeremy, who hove-to through the western front is now 60 miles from the Hobart gate, having covered only 50 miles since yesterday. Ian has reduced the gap further but will be the first one caught by the high pressure coming in from the west. The winds are capricious, and nothing is set in stone yet for Olleanna and Puffin!
In the lead group, Simon has sailed 60% of the way around the world, 2/3 of the southern oceans and half of the Pacific exclusion zone! He lost ground last night on Kirsten and Abhilash who are keeping a steady pace between 6 and 7 knots but are now threatened by the high pressure to their NW. Kirsten will be the first to see her barometer drop and should change course during the day.
