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Ocean Planet in the Around Alone – Update
Friday, April 25, 2003 1200gmt
Position 18 22.5 N 56 50.8 W
Hi all,
Well, THAT was a quick change. After an incredibly long and frustrating night fighting to keep moving in almost no wind, a long line of black clouds jumped on us just after sunrise. They brought torrential rain and a dramatic wind change. Right now we are going upwind with a reef and a full ballast tank! I’m sure it will drop off once this squall passes, but we should at least be in steadier winds for a while now. I hope so, as in the last 24 hours we’ve had at least 10 sail changes and 6 gybes to work into my exercise program…;-)
Another alert: Hardworking Ocean Planet team member Ashley Perrin is making a new line of custom sea bags made from used (but still great for bags) sailcloth from your favorite ocean racing boats! For instance, you can order an innovative custom bag (http://www.oceanracing.com/store/store8.cfm ) made from Ocean Planet’s old Doyle D4 Vectran working jib. A portion of the proceeds goes to help our program, so get a cool bag and help Ocean Planet at the same time. If you are going to Sail Expo, stop and see Ashley at Booth 568. Several other boats in the Around Alone have donated sails that you get bags made from, like Tim, Koji, and others!
Drat, the wind from the squall is letting up, may have to shake the reef, switch to light genoa, dump ballast water…etc.
Later,
Bruce and Ocean Planet