Girl and ten minutes ahead of Resolute. We were once again on a tight reach
and now just 68 miles from the finish line. We didn't have a lot of strategic
decisions to make at the moment. I promptly announced that I was
exhausted and was going to catch a few hours rest. I fell unconscious
fairly immediately.
When I woke two hours later I found out that Brown Eyed Girl had moved
ahead of us and that Resolute was on our hip but "to weather." Wind hadn't
changed, it was light between 7 and 11 knots and northwesterly. The
forecast was for the weather to continue with maybe the wind getting
lighter. Hmmm. Not great. If the wind would just go back a bit (say,
to northerly), then we would be able to sail with our Code Zero
spinnaker. The light steadily faded and as predicted the winds started
getting lighter. We chased Brown Eyed Girl but managed to move slightly
ahead of Resolute.
In anticipation (hoping), I made sure that the Code Zero (tight reaching
spinnaker) was accessible. I took it out from under the #3 and #4
headsails so it would be ready if conditions warranted. And I hoped,
and prayed, and willed the boat forward. "C'Mon, let's catch those
guys!," I thought to myself.
9PM, 10PM, 11PM, it got completely dark and the winds continued to
gradually get lighter. I checked the weather in Stamford; it was only
4 knots there (UGLY). BUT, it was northerly (as compared to
northwest). Hmmm, it became a very real possibility of using the Zero.
We were off Bridgeport now, only 20 miles from the finish. We were
moving at only five knots of boat speed. I suggested that we try the
Zero, if it didn't work we would always take it back down but I
thought it was a good gamble. The watch captain asked if I was sure.
That was less resistance than I had feared, I didn't even answer, just
pushed the code zero up on deck from below. Skip announced (with a
slight tinge of skepticism in his voice), "OK, let's get that thing
up".