STRAIT TO STROMBOLI

Well not quite but it sounds good. The start yesterday was everything I had hoped it would be in terms of excitement and spectacle. The number of boats, the atmosphere of the watching crowds and the susupense waiting for the off. Thank goodness we did not stuff it all up by being over early.

The first section to Sicily was fairly starightforward. We did try to t-bone Nisida at St Paul's but fortunately did not. It was then a fetch all the way to Capo Passero in 10-12 knots. Perfect. We even had tortelini for supper.

The night became a nightmare. We are 35 tonnes. 35 tonnes is heavy displacement and simply does not go downwind in 5 knots. So, when the wind began swinging further and further south and dropping off the Beaufort Scale, many of those who we had passed on the way to Sisicily began to catch us and overhaul us. Curses. Daybreak brought no comfort with 13 boats ahead of us on the horizon and some no bigger than 50 feet compared to our 80 feet.

As the day went on so the situation improved. On my second off watch the wind really piped up. I missed a dramatic gybe that heralded the improvement in the wind and some fast reaching at last. We really ate the final miles to the Strait and I almost missed the passage whilst I was below trying to send some images to the media centre (they better use them).

Once we popped out of the Strait like a cork out of the bottle we power reached most of the way to Stromboli in overcast skies that allowed a little sunlight through early afternoon. We had a shortlived period of 22 knots, but try as we might we could not extend byond a short burst of 11 knots. We push a lot of water. Still when the tough weather comes I'm sure we'll be happy to have that extra weight.

So night has fallen on day 2 and it is time for bed for three hours of rest.

A plus