Just in from Phil aboard Imerys Clean Energy
Position: 3rd / Distance to finish: 673 nm
“We’re currently sailing in 10 knots of breeze in a relatively flat Biscay, and have just changed from gennaker to spinnaker. Aina and Rhum are both a couple of miles in front, but it’s still a very close battle and both are well in sight.
“Definitely happy to be moving again following a particularly complicated night rounding our mark at Gijon in very light winds. As I came near the coast I hit a large unlit Spanish lobster pot which completely stopped the boat dead for several minutes. Fortunately it eventually detached itself from my keel. For the last mile there was no wind whatsoever, and we basically drifted around the mark at around 1 knot of speed.
“The boat is good apart from an issue with the electronics, three times, whilst making sail changes and right up at the bow, the autopilot, with no warning, suddenly crash-tacked the boat. This again completely stopped the boat, but also caused a bit of a mess each time and required 360 degree turns. Not ideal, but looking ahead there’s around four days of racing left and anything can happen! Next ‘stop’ Banc de Guérande!”
