After winning the Onion Patch Series (combined winner of NYYC Annual Regatta, the Newport-Bermuda Race and the Annual Regatta in Bermuda), Rán is now securely loaded on the ship that will take her and her rival Bella Mente to Palma. Next race is Copa del Rey in Palma in August.

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We crossed the finishing line around 8am eastern time / 9am Bermudian time. We're pretty certain we won our class. Bella Mente has to finish soon and we can't even see her on the horizon. It's been lots of fun racing Bella Mente, Titan, Rambler and Beau Geste - these are all formidable teams in very competitive yachts - so we are very happy to come out on top. We thank them and the race committee for a great race. Now we will well have deserved shower, lunch and we may try the local drinks.

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Bermuda time 8.40am - we are just a few miles to go, the finishing line is just ahead. Still doing over 9 knots of speed. Sun cream, good tactics and patience are the 3 elements needed right now until the finish line! Bermuda here we come!

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6.30am. As we are approaching the finish slowly but surely, we are all on deck, no more watches, all are on duty for the final stretch. Coffee and tea served on the rail - black only as no more milk powder onboard. Very calm water. Wind speed of 9 knots - just over, and land in sight. Beautiful morning start!

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Monday 5am. As the sun is about to rise the wind strength has dropped to 6-9 knots and turned left which means we are hard on the wind and cannot lay the way-point. Titan is downwind from us and is not a threat. Rambler and Beau Geste are up-wind and in front as we thought the would. We are still in a strong position although it now looks like Beau Geste is the biggest threat. Just a few more hours to go.

   

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Mon 2.45am we are 38 miles from the first waypoint of Bermuda and from there we have to go around the island another 7 miles. Currently we have 8 knots of breeze but it is gradually decreasing. The airport on Bermuda reports 5 knots. Hopefully there is enough to keep us going. Titan is still to our left maybe a touch ahead. Beau Geste and Rambler are on our right and they too have come ahead of our bow as expected since they can sail a higher wind angle and are bigger boats. Bella Mente a about 20 miles behind. Some time ago something must have happened to I'll Mostro since they stopped - we hope they are OK. We are in a very strong position to win our class if nothing weird happens - such as the wind dies on us. We got a night meal this night and no more watches - all man on deck from here.

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Sunday night 20.10. The sun has now set. We are still in the lead of our class. We now have about 100 miles to go we are fetching in 12-14 knots of wind doing about 11-12.5 knots straight towards Bermuda. We have Beau Geste above us and Titan below us. Both of them are potential threats so being in the middle wa can defend against either one of them if we need to. It will be a night with very little sleep and full hiking to get that extra speed.

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Still sailing around 12 knots of speed. Beautiful evening...

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We have embarked on our sunday evening activities. This is the third evening since we started the race. First: dinner with a view. Tonight on the menu: beef teriyaki (with or without tabasco - same price!). The wind is dropping so we changed the jib, requiring a few hands and arms. Around 125 miles to go to reach the way point. It is a warm nice evening ahead of us.

   

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What coffee can taste better than this one taken on the rail when you have the competitors behind.

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