update from Virginia

Yesterday was I think Wednesday. It was a very long day but in the end very rewarding and successful. It started either with rowing or flying the spinnaker, and continued with such through the hours of darkness and into the dawn. We had a provisional watch system with all the team now involved, meaning that Kate, Andrew and Virginia would get a bit more sleep, and David would have to get his night vision focused. The reality was that we needed 3 on board for rowing and at least 4 for gybing the spinnaker. Kate had taught her crew well but we were still amateurs and under cover of darkness a spinnaker gybe is more tricky. She would call back into the cockpit 'Is this the red or the blue sheet?' But we improved and concentration was kept at a high level as we changed places with the Aussie team Whistler throughout the day and night. The tricky bit was whether we would get through the tidal gate at Luing, and it looked touch and go through the night, but we managed to get through at 3am at the very last opportunity. Exciting stuff. We were rather surprised that Whistler also managed to get through, but that gave us a continued battle. They were faster than us in a straight line but we sailed directly for the next point at all times, and were better rowers when the boys were on duty. Bacon butties at dawn helped to pass the hours and porridge at 11:30 constituted lunch. By then we were coming round Lismore Island and Shuna, with the prospect of the Corran Narrows ahead. Patrick and David got into preparation mode for Ben Nevis and Andrew and Kate sailed the boat fast; at last the wind had appeared and Andrew and I had stopped falling asleep on the oars and helm, and were enjoying the race once more. As we rushed through the Corran Narrows with spinnaker flying we gave Bill a wave and continued to catch Whistler. We were now worried that there was too much wind but our spinnaker handling had improved so that we looked semi professional, and we managed to get our runners ashore for 2pm. While we chatted ashore to the other boats it became clear that no one else was going for the Tilman Trophy so we became very excited as it meant that we would win this category. Off David and Patrick went, and were back far too fast in 4 hours 15 minutes. We were 4th overall as well so delighted. Champagne and a relaxing evening on board followed with a chicken curry and tuna bake provide by the chief cook who has now gone on strike and left David to eat cereal out of the packets....The team were all very sleepy and have enjoyed an excellent sleep.