Are Gold Dimes Enough?

Hola Westward fans!

The most recent update from the boat. Sounds like spirits are high...even if the wind isn't always!

N 23 46.017
W 113 19.174
Heading 145
Wind 10 knots @ 280
Sea- Calm 2'-3'
1010 mbs


Our midnight watch crew has settled down enough to compose an email to our probably puzzled readers. The wind has not been coorperating since our last update. Why would I mention that we could round Baja in close to two days, idiot. Of course it wouldn't work out perfectly. Last night's discussion, for example, was whether or not to maintain leverage and drive deeper on starboard pole or to head straight at our waypoint. The latter argument won the night and worked for the next 12 hours, but we certainly could have used the leverage today as we had to head up in the light air. Anyway last night we drove directly-ish to about 120 degrees pushing a 9 knot average for night. Woke up to exciting results, 1st in class and 3rd overall. Not sure what today's slow racing will bring for result but positive attitudes abound. We had a great laugh knowing Pyewacket did the same mileage as us. 

Our main competition is Allure. It has quite a few good friends from LAYC. One is Doug Grant who has been intimately involved in helping us prepare and rig for Transpac and this race. Another ,perhaps more important, rivalry with Allure is our own sail savant Steve Dair's younger brother Brian Dair is aboard. Steve reluctantly gave me the information that he was older, but with pride Steve said, "Brian looks older and has more gray hair.It's because that ponytail." 


Sam has instituted a reward system for good driving and max speeds. If any of you know Sam, he either offered you 1)candy or 2)a gold dime. Candy is accessible to all on board. So the gold dime is the trophy.  Ron won our "gold dime" contest today with a high speed of 14.6, Graham not far behind with a 14.5. Tracy won thehighest average 30 minutes gold time. So far Tracy and Ron are the big recipients with more than one to their names. Team LAYC is falling drastically behind due to not really caring about gold dimes. Maybe he starts withholding our cold beers at sunset.....

It's time to put the heavy jackets away as the days get hotter and the nights warmer. More layers keep getting pealed off after every jibe. Let's hope we don't jibe anymore tonight as are running out of clothes. Yikes, bad thought. 

Fair wind and following seas