Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Clipper Around the World (Virtual) Race Finishes Leg 8

San Francisco to Panama
After more than 2,500 miles of sailing (virtually), I have to savor this moment-mostly, because this moment promises to be fleeting. Vigilance is crossing on port No Going Back [Lime] and Little Surprise [Yellow] who are (virtually) within sight of each other off the coast of Costa Rica. Vigilance is going 9.1 knots in 17.8 knots of wind. Among the boats we have been tracking in this 8th Leg of the Clipper Around the World (virtual) Race, this a competition for 2nd place. (Polya is 69 miles ahead of us!) Also in the picture is Macavity2, whose skipper is a primary adversary on my own (real) waters. Stuck gunnel-to-gunnel with Macavity2 is Canadian RodH.

Exciting moment!

But in 2nd place at noon, I slip back into a virtual 6-way tie for 3rd by midnight! Only a drastic change in the weather can save me from much worse of a fate. But that's sailing, isn't it?

Click to expand the chart...