Stressful times!!

Another exciting night as Visit Malta Puma has gained tremendous ground on Cheeki Rafiki, the next yacht ahead in Class 1. However, although the tracker states at the moment that Puma is only 14 miles behind them now, it is a little relative to the direction which each yacht is pointing. With Cheeki having gone further west over night, she has now dramatically come East and is on a non-making tack at the moment, meaning she is pointing away from the finish, so the tracker thinks she is not doing as well as she should be. But, it is obvious to see on the water that Puma’s tactic of staying inshore and sailing a more direct course has certainly paid dividends and she has finally extended that bungy link from Beluga and Winsome whom for most of yesterday could all see each other. News from Puma this morning is that conditions have started to get bumpy after they have rounded Tearaght Island, the most Westerly point of the race and are heading home across the Irish Sea now.  Distance to the finish is saying 425 miles but you can realistically add on another 25% as they will be tacking all the way to the Scilly Isles. We believe on the water Puma is around 25 miles behind Cheeki – all very much still to play for.

Meanwhile Playing Around Logic has put in another solid performance overnight and have stayed in touch with Encore, who again have been sailing exceptionally well. British Soldier have eaten up the deficit between them and Encore, and are now ahead of them on the water, for the first time in over 5 days now. Theoretically, British Soldier should be quicker on the water than Encore but now that all yachts are having to tack back and forth, it has become race of tactics rather than just straight line speed. After Iain’s stint on the helm of Playing Around yesterday afternoon, we wonder if Roger has been allowed back to his potions of helmsman or is having to swap roles and now become a bowman – not sure if this is really his speciality! Everyone is having a blast on board Playing Around, they are in good humour, good spirits, and are determined to keep British Soldier at bay and close that deficit between them and Encore.

News from the fleet is that our German friends Norddeutsche Vermogen Hamburg (we raced against them in the 2008 Madeira Race) will be the next to complete this gruelling event, they should cross the finish line by lunchtime today. Well done them!