Another Live Tracker

Just to let you know that I have found another user-friendly tracker
on the Shetland Marina Website: http://live.adventuretracking.com/rbandi2010
based on the same data from Yellowbrick, each boat has a number
(Jangada Too is 28) and you can click on a boat name to see the track,
speed and direction. That being said, Jangada's track does seem to
have a funny double back loop in it, (GPS Error or was that the new
Skipper trying to head for the Antarctic?).

The first boats have nearly reached Kinsale and I am hoping that
Jangada will be there by the end of today.

Thanks for all your comments, its good to know that I am not alone
watching from the shore!

Grace

New Skipper on Board

I received a Satellite phonecall this morning to inform me that there
is a stowaway skipper on board, who thinks he is going to Antartica
with his friend Sir Admiral Waddle Flapjack. Richard & Trevor are
valiantly resisting all attempts to change course and are heading
straight for Kinsale, having sailed past the Scillies this morning.

On the home front, it is just me and the dogs, the kids went back to
school last night. Time for catching up with friends and a visit to
the hairdressers.

Next Blog should be from Kinsale with photographic evidence of the new
Skipper!

Grace

Eddystone

Have now passed the Eddystone Lighthouse. Enjoying a fresh breeze,
sunshine, and close company with J105 Taika. Our start was ultra cautious
and once out of the harbour we started to cimb up through the rankings to
our current position. Holding out to the south in search of the new wind
from the south-west before we tack toward the Scillies.

Essential Supplies

As we set out for the start we opened the first of our surprises from
the family - essential supplies.
1) Ultra lightweight toothbrush, pre drilled handle
2) mini hairbrush, we'll drill out the handle later,
3) chocolate, no holes,
4) cream for those lovely soft hands,
5) batteries for Trevor as I threw most of his spares off!
6) all wrapped in tissue paper - I'm sure we'll find a use for it.
Rich

03:00 change of watch

I seem to have slipped into the 3 to 4 hour pattern of watches
already! Fuelled with excitement, I find myself awake already. The
sound of revellers passing our hotel, along with a steady flow of
traffic, is not helping me to sleep. And it is the ability to sleep at
every opportunity that will be a key factor in this endurance race.

Richard

Weather

A race against time - a low pressure system drifting in from the
Atlantic is forecast to pass with its centre over Kinsale. With wind
circulating around the system, this will leave a hole in the wind at
its heart. The only question is whether we make it to Kinsale before
this passes over us and leaves us becalmed for six hours. Hopefully we
will arrive before midnight on Monday, but it may be Tuesday - watch
this space....

Ready for the off...

Its the final day of preparations - the race starts tomorrow. All 56 boats are now waiting in Plymouth, covered in flags, with the World Rabies Day high among them.  We've been busy, both with continuing to prep the boat and looking carefully at all the weather predictions.  The forecast is not too pleasant, in that rain is predicted, but the wind is from the right direction, so, if it comes good, should make for a quick race.

Trevor