Emäsalon Lenkki done

Kankku the 2nd crew navigator before the start near Pyysaari.









The start of the "large" class was at 18.30 the 22nd of May. AquilaDeux had a conservative start but the spinnaker was up. We actually gained surprisingly from the start and just before Kustaanmiekka we had quite satisfactory position.

Then the wind came down.... The Yacht stopped.I mean really stopped, and of course it was raining cats and dogs from the Thunderclouds (me and Ipu probably lost our phones, because they became totally wet in our pockets)...Stronzo, or should I say Strunts as my Belgian friend Kristof says sometimes...

The first 10 nautical miles of the competition took some 5 hours. It even came in mind that if we do not move faster we have to Raise the Flag. Somewhere at 1.00 am the 23rd of May the wind came near Musta Hevonen.

In the beginning the speed was something 3-4 knots, but in the morning after 4.00 am we started to reach such speed as 6 knots, 7 knots and even 8 knots (max speed of the trip for our boat).

also the weather after sunrise was much better that forecaste promised. The temperature was around 14 Centigrade that is quite acceptable for May temperature. Even sun shined and there were not anymore rainclouds.

At 10.53 a.m we reached the Finish line. Leaving us the medium speed around 4 knots. It is very good medium speed, because we had some hours that the boat practically and actually did not move at all.

I believe the whole crew agrees that it was a good sailing experience. In the result list we were 17/18, that is satisfactory (of being not last) and expectable (30 years old comparably heavy boat does not really move on the lowest winds).

Thanx for the crew. The story continues.

AQUILA NON CAPTAT MUSCAS

Today is amazingly warm day - again +25 degrees. The whole week has been exceptionally warm for May in the whole Finland!

Everything is ready for the tomorrows "Emäsalon lenkki" - race. The race will be overnight race starting at 18.45. The lenghth of the route is 60+ nautical miles. The weather perhaps change during the race. It might be that we have quite cold morning on the 23rd of May. Estimated time to do the leg is +/- 14hrs depending on the wind.

CREW: Petri (1st Skipper), Juha (1st navigator + trimmer), Pekka (1st deck monkey)
-Ipu (2nd Skipper), Kankku (2nd navigator + trimmer), Per (2nd deck monkey and kitchen maid.)

As always there are highest hopes before the race. The most important is to train before the summers highlight: Helsinki -Tallinn race.

Today the summer season 2010 officially starts

AquilaDeux was on the sea actually already yesterday. But some adjustments with the new mast were done... So finally today we set our sails to west and sailed a fantastic day to Helsinki from Loviisa. Totally some 46 NM. The sun was shining the whole day. The temperature was +20 Centigrade. Wind blew from the east 4-12 m/s.

Left from Loviisa at 14.15 and arrived at home dock at 22.00

New crewmember was introduced: Mr Jukka, the new deckmonkey. Total freshman in sailing but what is the most important very good and relaxed upper class twit, and his dandy brother Ilkka who is more experienced as a crewmember in AquilaDeux.

Thanks for both!!

Only ten days and the yacht is on the sea!

Some fittings for the mast this week and the boat is ready to set sail. The planned sailing back to the home-dock the 14th of May.