Day 51, November 15, 1998

© Foto Richard Konkolski

There was not much news on the sailing fleet. Yazykov was expected to finish next, but he still has 128 miles to go. He was doing fine with seven plus knots. Despite his health problem he was able to gain another thirty miles on Petersen.

Rudderless Robin was doing great. He covered 100 miles during the last 24 hours. Saito was able to cut down only 8 miles from his 16 miles gap on Robin. But Saito was gaining steadily every day.

Robin was able to send a message: "Yesterday's 30-knot winds fell nicely lighter to 15 to 20 knots yesterday evening and at the same time backed around from southwest to south which was real good. It was so good - it was too good to last - it kept going down, and going around throughout the morning and day today, so that by this afternoon we are drifting with 6 to 8 knots right ahead from the ESE, and that is forcing me to sail NE at the moment."

© Foto Richard Konkolski
"The nice weather, with lighter winds came some blue skies and sun, meant I could get out on deck and not have to wear all my foul weather gear, and so the day was spent catching up on jobs. At dawn, the split inner jib of yesterday was rehoisted - repaired last night, and then some stitching to the mainsail upper leeches before hoisting it to its second reef. We shipped the MRUD paddle-rudder blade onto the monitor, and that has added to the directional stability of the boat in light winds."

"The rest of the day went into getting the little autopilot drive unit hooked up to the monitor, and this has meant making some aluminum brackets, and putting together a long drive unit extension from a section of aluminum tube and a brush handle that I have whittled the ends down to a dowel diameter size to fit into the tube. This should be complete in the morning."

"It looks as though we are in for some calms, so a bit of help from MRUD will work wonders, and with the little autopilot working we should be able to hoist some more sail once I have sewn a bit more sail."

© Foto Richard Konkolski

Positions:

Class 1

Class 2

Copyright © Richard Konkolski
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