2002
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Ocean Planet Report
Friday, November 8, 2002 1210gmt
Pos: Lat: 01,34.40n Lon: 024,46.25w
Hdg: 196t @ 9kts
Hurray!! Sunshine and no monster thunderheads in sight. Early this morning we escaped the last of the rainy clutches of the ITCZ, doldrums, or bozo zone. The final analysis is that my easterly dice roll was a flop, but I don’t regret giving it a shot, what the heck. I did wind up losing a bunch of miles to Brad Van Liew, but that is no dishonor as he is the most experienced American (glad he’s in Class 2), and the only returning veteran of the 96/97 race. Good decision, Brad!
He may have gotten enough to hold me till Cape Town, but we’ll see about that, as Ocean Planet is cookin’ now despite it being upwind. Bit by bit the wind should shift left and we can start to really move. The big problem is getting weather info, with the mini-m dead I can’t download data files (or send pics). This is a bummer, but will have to go by the “seat of the pants” as they say. Frankenstein (my nickname for our patched up mainsail) is holding up and only about 3,800 miles to sail to Cape Town.
Later,
Bruce