Finally some wind in the Round Britain and Ireland Challenge

The yachts in the Round Britain and Ireland Challenge have finally found wind out in the Irish Sea on the third day of racing, after a very slow 48 hours.

Out in the lead is Spirit of Sark, skippered by the oldest race skipper, 40-year old Des Harvey, two miles in front of SAIC, skippered by the youngest, 28-year old Martin Wild. Another four miles back is Samsung, skippered by 36 year-old Will Otton.

Des Harvey rang into Race HQ this afternoon and explained: “We were just parked up yesterday in what became known as the Irish doldrums but we’ve finally found some wind and have been charging along averaging around 14-15 knots.”

Life onboard is settling into a steady swing for the crews, the relative calm of the weather not giving them the baptism of fire they may have been promised. But they’ll need to stay vigilant as a low-pressure system is currently lying in wait for them, off the west coast of Ireland.

It has been so relaxed that Spirit of Sark described how they’re not on a race but rather a “nature watch!” with a chaffinch, a selection of moths and a hitchhiking bat onboard (eating the moths!)! In the water the current lead boat was even privileged to be escorted for a while by a pod of dolphins, later replaced by a playful group of porpoises.

Despite a relative cruise on some of the yachts it has been completely the opposite on others, with some impressive spinnaker damage early on.

SAIC destroyed their 1.5 oz race spinnaker on the first night. They explain: “A gust of 27kts hit and it was goodbye to that. Bit of a blow. The crew responded well and the heavier Flanker spinnaker was up in five minutes flat. Fingers crossed we may not need it again.”

There has been a similar incident onboard Me to You, as described by Mate, Corrie McQueen: “The wind was building and we were pushing the boat as hard as we could but suddenly, without warning, it just popped, and tore, along the length of the foot and one of the side edges!! The entire crew of Me To You sprung into action and the kite came down in one piece (albeit one piece with an enormous gaping hole)!

“Before you could say 'spinnaker pole' the Me to You saloon was converted into a sail loft and damage assessment begun. Of course, as with all little pickles aboard sailing yachts, things are easier said than done: the kite is the size of a tennis court and the saloon is a bit smaller: lots of wind means charging along with the boat heeled over and even balancing yourself down below can be interesting, let alone balancing yourself with a pair of scissors, sticky back sail repair tape and sewing needles.

“Fearless members of each watch took on this onerous task of apprentice sail makers to the skipper John Quigley and together they worked through the rest of yesterday evening and throughout the night to get our spinnaker back together.

“We had the ceremonial rehoisting of our mended kite, which stayed up and everyone's hard work was proved worthwhile!!”

On Samsung the mighty spinnaker was also causing problems for the crew as Ricky Chalmers, Mate was awoken in the middle of the night to discover: “I woke to the feel of the boat not being "quite right". There was a jolt - perhaps they were just moving the pole forward. No - the squeak of shoes and boots moving on the deck - something is up.

“Out of my bunk, midlayer, still damp dragged on. Wet socks cool down the feet still warm from the sleeping bag before they get forced into boots, I rush forward to the companion way to calls from the on watch alerting me that Will wants me for a spinnaker drop. Good, just a drop then.

“Guy run, or spike? I stick my head up to ask if I would delay things putting my climbing harness on. Oh no - its blown. Will and the crew are pulling the lazy guy through the letterbox and the 1.5 oz kite is a floggy ripped mess. I look to the end of the pole, no kite there - but the clew is still hanging on, and the tapes are still attached, it needs to be spiked.

“I dash forward, grabbing the spike held at the mast. The pole is low and forward for reaching, but there is still a short near vertical climb. Spike in the teeth, Indiana Jones style, I clamber up the yankee still hanked on to the forestay and then transfer to the foreguy before stabbing the snap-shackle and releasing the port clew of the ex race kite.

“Then it is a dash to get the Flanker up, I first retrieve my harness from down below whilst the 2.2 oz flanker is hauled on deck. Up I go again, this time more conventionally attached to the foreguy.

“I was interrupted with cries to get the Flanker down as the wind had strengthened and come forward. A bit messy and a broken spinnaker pole later, we have an intact Flanker down below and are now beam reaching with the Yankee 2 and Staysail.”

So, an eventful time, at least for some of the yachts. In the next 24 hours the yachts can expect south – south easterlies and 5 – 7 knots.

There are still only 14 miles between the front and back yachts so the Round Britain and Ireland Challenge is still anyone’s race.

Fleet Positions:

Spirit of Sark 1,558 (distance to finish)
SAIC 2 (miles to the leader)
Samsung 6
Me to You 10
Pindar 12