Sam Davies’ daily log
Early Saturday is new ETA for Roxy
"I am writing this in the moonlight which is streaming into the cabin as Roxy trundles along under her big (Sophie) spinnaker. The moonlight is shining behind the spinnaker and the girl that is painted on the sail is silhouetted out - just beautiful!
I had two sail changes today - first Genevieve (who was very happy to unroll her cloth as she had been very tightly rolled in 30 knots of wind the previous day), then Sophie the spinnaker. Each time it is extremely hard work to heave the sail to the top of the mast as it weighs about the same as me. I am left sapped of energy for a few minutes afterwards. My hands are suffering too; I think it will take more than a manicure to turn them back into girl's hands!
These are the times I prefer - we are powering along with big sails in the dark of night. It is a bit of a buzz to let Roxy sail herself with so much power, and takes practice to be able to sleep. Luckily, I have had plenty.
I have had a little snooze already but I was rudely awoken when my bed, normally horizontal, became very steeply angled and I found myself in a heap where my feet normally are – a little wipeout caused by a very impolite 22-knot gust! I was on deck in a matter of seconds to ease the sheets and Roxy was soon back upright and pointing in the right direction. The only trouble was that in the rush I had put my boots on the wrong feet!
I don't know why, but it is a common occurrence on this trip to put at least one boot on the wrong foot. I have even written "port" and "starboard" on my boots but it hasn't helped. I have taken to using it as a sign of how tired I am: if I get both boots on before I realise that they are on the wrong feet then I am definitely too tired!
I have just over 600 miles to go - a mere "Fastnet Race" - and my latest ETA is for early Saturday morning. This could still change though, as the winds look pretty light and tricky for my last 200 miles.
S x"
At 1100 UK time, Sam Davies aboard Roxy was in 3rd position, 518 miles from the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne, France
