After sailing the offshore from Dunkerque to Calais yesterday it was time for inshore races today. With a 16th place the team could be satisfied because a lot of boats like, Oman en Dunkerque got in trouble. For the first time they didn't have worry about the weather, a nice sun and a good breeze. With Remko on board again, since months, the team tried to improve the results. And it was successful: in the second race the team finished in a 13th place.
The day started with some drag racing in the harbour of Calais. Every team had to go out on a track from about 400 meters and go as quick as possible from one mark to the other one. It was not for the rankings but for a very useful price; a bike! The price went to another team, but no worries, there is another race tomorrow so they can try again. About 12 o'clock it was time to leave the docks. At the end of the lock, just before the sea, the shore crew was waiting for the boat and waved to the team and made a lot of noise with their vuvuzela(hate those things!!) To wish the team good luck!
At the start of the first race there was a good breeze of about 15 knots blowing over the deck. The start of this race was pretty good and afterwards they went to the right part of the course but the wind was going left. So this was not the most ideal position. After being in 20th position at the upper mark the team had downwind a superb downwind ride and won a lot of places. After losing some places at the lower mark the finish was in a 16th position.
Four teams received a black flag disqualification for a jump start in the second race. The rest of the fleet had to do a restart and this wasn't the best start for our guys. The acceleration of the line was pretty bad. As the only ones they went further out on the sea and that was a pretty good choice. At the first upper mark it was very chaotic. But the boat was still in one piece after rounding the upwind mark. After the second upwind there was an early finish. The result was a 13th place.
Tomorrow the first long offshore will be sailed. About 2 o'clock the offshore will start and they will arrive 70 miles later at Dieppe. Probably the finish will be at mid-night.
