Cape Town!!!

As the last heat of the sun faded opposite Table Mountain, BP Explorer languished in a fickle breeze and we watched as Stelmar ghosted along beside us to port and Imagine it. Done flanked the golden beaches hugging the coastline to the west of the last of our three great capes - the Cape of Good Hope. The mast of Spirit of Sark, meanwhile, crept quietly away from us dead ahead in the building fog. The line of wind to starboard seemed to favour Imagine inshore and our genoa flapped sickeningly whilst we began to fear the worst - the possibility of losing the podium place which we have fought so relentlessly for over five tough weeks. The sun sank, and a band of colour melted behind Team Stelmar, lighting up a purple line of fog in front of their hull.

Suddenly, the breeze shifted. Imagine appeared to slide backwards and with a wind-shift aft, we unexpectedly found ourselves able to hoist the lightweight kite. It went up like a dream - everyone performing their roles seamlessly just when they needed to! BP Explorer lifted her skirts and began to glide away from Stelmar, who pursued us under No.1 yankee and staysail. All too soon, however, they were kiting it as well and hot on our heels. Spirit of Sark for now swallowed up into the fog, we played each gentle breath of breeze sent our way and inched away from Stelmar slowly but surely, covering her every move as she bore away and tried to sail cross behind us to starboard. The time for watch changeover came and went and with all 18 crew on deck we nurtured every 0.1 of a knot of speed out of our spinnaker. Each little move that you make in these conditions affects boat speed and nothing was left to chance. By 11pm boat time we were over a mile ahead of her and thinks were looking up!

Over the evening and into the night, the winds have shifted and built, stabilised and dropped and built again. Everyone is tired and digging deep to make the necessary sail changes (and even a reef at one point!) slick and fast. Accompanied by spectacular phosphorescence, which lights up atop the
welcome waves - and even the ominous forms of sharks - we have by turns inched and flown our way towards the last waypoint, Cape Town!

Our final position of second place has been hard-won; and the light-winds lottery which looked set to betray our efforts has not done so. The gods have been kind but here on BP Explorer we certainly feel like we deserve it. Each and every crew member has given their all and David, the watch leaders and our navigators have made great tactical calls throughout these final tense hours. Finally we are here and boy it feels good! It is an experience none of us will ever forget. How do we feel? ELATED one and all!


Naomi Cudmore