DELTA LLOYD EMAIL: 'What an exciting day'

Wednesday 20 May 2009, 10:05 GMT

Delta Lloyd - Sander Pluijm (Media Crew Member)

What an exciting day this was! Happy faces on the Delta Lloyd. After we decided to let the scoringgate be, navigator Wouter verbraak warned us 'that it was going to be a tricky day'. And it became a difficult day of sailing. A day full of fighting shifts and currents. Gains were made all in very little windshifts.

More southerly it became a fight for the right current. Like every other boat we were looking for the warm Gulfstream. Warm water means more breeze. When we finally after two tacks found the Gulfstream water-temperature went up with 5 degrees from 12 to 17 degrees in a few miles.

The difference between three layers off fleece and thermals or just a t-shirt. So the boys were happy that the sun finally brought some warmth on deck. But most important of all, our tactics worked! We let the scoring gate be to aim for the long term strategy and to get back to the fleet. And here at the end of the day we are surrounded by boats. Everywhere around our boat we see the rest of the fleet. So after 4 days of racing we are back on track and in the middle of the pack.

Tonight is going to be tricky because the watertemp will drop, So light wind and thermals back on, cause it will be a cold night again.

Cheers

Sander - MCM

Received 10:05 GMT