For sure this feels like the swansong for the mighty Sanya LAN.. As I write this we are zooming in on Fastnet Rock, off the Southern tip of Ireland and most famous for the bi-annual UK based Fastnet Race which as is turns out was the very first race that we did as Team Sanya, just a week after her christening so as we reach in here all the memories of the last 9 months go flashing on by..

But now isn't a time for reflection, off our port bow less then a mile in front Abu Dhabi who we have been battling with pretty constantly for the last 24 hours… She is always a but quicker, but in true Sanya fashion we have cut the corner on her a couple of times and are right into this…

We have two cards to possibly play against her between now and the finish. Firstly we believe that they may have gone with lots of equipment onboard so they could stack the boat for the heavy reach out here.. We went the opposite, as we felt our only chance was to be fast at the end… Fingers crossed we are in a different mode.. Then our other card is hopefully we have a more inshore downwind orientated sail (our A2) Gennaker onboard for the first time. We aren't sure they have one they could have declared so that also will be interesting. If they are light like us and they have an A2 like us then we are in trouble, as they should be quicker. Our best chance is that we are different and then we have room for a chance.

We would just love so much to beat another boat into our second home stop-over of Galway, we have so proudly displayed "Discover Ireland " as a Key Partner in the race and we would love to make all our wonderful Irish fans proud…. Galway is going to be amazing, I wasn't there three years ago, but I have seen the pictures and heard the stories and to be honest I am a little scared!!

For now though there can't be any thoughts of a pint of Guinness just yetr, we have boats to pass, who knows the ones further up the road just might see the Discover Ireland brand on our boat looming out of the darkness yet!,, fingers crossed..

 
 
Cheers

 

Mike

Leslie Greenhalgh

SOURCE: bymnews.com

 
 
 
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