Jaguar Logic Win Race Four

Jaguar Logic, skippered by Tim Thubron, sailed an excellent race on Sunday in strong and challenging winds in race four of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series. The conditions were perfect for an exciting day of racing with blue skies and 18 — 23 knots of breeze.

Jaguar Logic had an excellent start and sailed a tactically perfect 1^st beat to lead around the 1^st mark. This lead they kept to the finish line. They were pushed hard all the way with Premier Flair always close on their heels. A jubilant and very happy returned to Shamrock Quay for their post race celebrations.

Puma Logic also had another great result. After struggling on the first beat Puma Logic found themselves pinned in a position they really did not want to be in and lagged behind the first mark, in 7^th place! By the second mark Puma was nearly five minutes behind Jaguar!

With excellent teamwork, well executed manoeuvres and great boat speed Puma Logic clawed back steadily throughout the race and picked one boat off at a time, eventually finishing one minute behind Jaguar Logic in 2^nd place. So it was a 1^st and 2^nd place for Sailing Logic boats. What an achievement!

At the half way stage Puma Logic still lead the Winter Series with Jaguar Logic now in an amazing 2^nd place in the series. Panther are not far behind in a good 8^th place. It is going to an exciting and tense second half to the series! Go Logic!

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This race is somewhat reminiscent of the 2006 Round Britain and
Ireland Race in that every headland we have gone around the wind has
headed us! We have been slogging away upwind for the last 400 miles!

The good news is that we have now rounded the last island and are on
the homeward leg. We are power reaching at nearly 9 knots towards Malta
(at the moment). But guess what? The wind is due to head us shortly!

Last night was another amazing night. Not only did we improve our
position we had a stunning display from the mediterannean dolphins in
the pitch black moonless night. They were enigmaticly illuminated by
the phospherence as we were becalmed and creeping along at 2 knots.
Some of the time all we could see were the torpedo like streaks below
the surface as there trail was brilliantly lit. Sometimes they would
slow down and swim alongside us, belly up, showing off their supremecy
of the sea. What a wonderful and unexpected display.

Today we should get sunshine, lots of wind and over 20 degrees of
heat. Finally the shorts can come out and we can experience what this
race is meant to be about!

Anyone who wants to do a serious offshore race with a difference this
one is a must. The diversity, rapidly changing conditions and
stunning scenery make this one to remember. I now know why this is
one of the 'classics.'

For now though, please be rest assured we are fighting hard all the
way. I have just heard we are in 3rd place now and a race win is
firmly in our sights!

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What an amazing light show of deep oranges, reds and white which
dramatically lit the skies around us. The phospherence lit the stern
wave of Seawolf as we power reached accross the Mediterannean at 8
knots. It was an eerie couple of hours but a spectacle I would not
wanted to have missed. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie
set, only better and more real than even the most sophisticated home
cinema could portray.

The biggest challenge for us has been how to cope with the relentless
squalls that have been battering us for the last two days. Too much
sail area and there could be severe damage, too little and we are way
underpowered between the squalls. The other choice is continual sail
changes which are just about completed before the conditions change
again and will exhaust an already tired crew! What to do? Hopefully
we have now passed through the last one for the next 24 hours! But
don't hold me to that!

For now we are enjoying the breathtaking scenery of the North West tip
of Sicilia. It is a largely uninhabited part of the island which has
blown my mind with its rugged and awe inspiring beauty.

My mind is now back on the swarms of giant jellyfish that have
regularly engulfed us. They are not called dustbin lid jellyfish for
nothing! Those of you who know of my fear of these pointless and
disgusting creatures will understand and probably be at home laughing!

Ps my feet are still wet and are now going wrinkly!

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