Day Nine

Another wild day on Urge...757 miles to the finish. Lat N 29 46 625 Lon W 147 15 282

Top speed 26knts, Avg speed on distance sailed 9.1 knots per hr.

We made the decision to not overstand the layline to Hawaii to avoid the potential low wind area. However, that decision had a serious price attached to it as we spent one half day with very little VMG which allowed the faster boats to make time on us- and they did. However, we are now on a safe layline into the finish and expect that all boats will converge to make it a drag race. Expedition routing is calling for Urge to finish at appx 0800 on the 18th.

The key is to keep the boat and crew together and minimize mistakes. Take the extra minute to do it right rather than do it fast and make an error that will cost an hour. We shredded a Code 6 reacher last night and Chris and Mike spent the morning trying to repair it. We have our second Code 6 up right now and are blasting right along.

The crew is in good spirits. A few tempers have flared but that is pretty normal when you take four type A guys and stick them in a 30ft by 8ft room for 10 days. All are hydrated and now that the sun is out, we can dry out the boat.

We are seeing a number of squalls now, and keep trying to position ourselves to be ready for them to take advantage of their forward wind. So far though, not many have punched with any wallop but we have had some beautiful rainbows to view.

Today has also been bath day. We are close enough now to use some of our spare water to wash up. Nice!

(Cabo Race 2010)

About two hours ago, we were moving right along when there was a THUMP on the keel. What the heck? Not what you want to hear any time, and especially when you have 700 plus miles to reach land. Then, there was a second louder thump and a flash of brown went by about three feet under the water. We were being attacked by a shark! It was about 8ft long. It turned around and made another strike, this time at the rudder. Urge has a transom hung rudder so Skillsaw got to see the full effect as he was driving. For us, that was too much. Believing it had the potential to break the rudder (although it may have been suicidal to do so) we got the boat hook and prepared to lash a knife to it. Meanwhile, Sloth was heading below to launch a chemical and biological attack from the head tank. Luckily, the shark must have had time to realize the full potential of the biological munitions that four grown men subsisting primarily on dried fruit and dehydrated meals can generate, and decided to call it a day.

Now it is time for another very dark night of driving.

(Sent Wednesday, July 14, 2010 4:57 PM)