Only 25 miles to go! This will be the last email for this trip, although I should be careful with such a statement, since last time our troubles really began a this point, and I had to add a long mail describing all the things that had gone wrong. So keep fingers crossed!

Last night and this morning was awesome. Wind increased but the sea remained more or less flat, waves were only 2 - 3 feet. The wind is what we expected, but in combination which bigger waves, like we had them a few days earlier. Our speed reached long stretches of 8+ knots. We were really flying; what a treat for the finals!

California girl, Green Buffalo and Hooligan have already finished. Our daily run of 151 miles was 33 miles more than that of the next coming Cassiopeia. Our new distance to them of 127 miles cannot be compensated with the 14.5 hours we owe them in corrected time. Unless something really goes wrong, we finally secured #4 position in division, despite our handicap of not having a mainsail. We are pleased with the outcome.

We had a passenger for the night. A bird, with a bright red head and a bright green tail settled on the masthead. The colors are actually not surprising, any bird could get it by sitting on the tricolor masthead light facing port, with the red port light making his head shine red, and the
green starboard light making his tail shine green. Despite all shaking and rolling, making him flutter from times to times, he would not leave.

Time comes up for the 25 mile check-in; i will close this mail and hope I can send it.

Aloha and Mahalo to all readers and followers of Cirrus' race, and a special Mahalo to all who contributed to the site with comments, making it a bit interactive. And Mahalo to Valerie, who did the posting of the pictures (and probably other stuff, I have not seen the final site yet) as this cannot (yet) be done from underway.

Final wrap-up mail after the award party, unless, well, let's not think about this. But it may take a while before I get to it.

Aloha,
Ulli

position at 1220 PDT : 21N39, 157W25, COG: 225M, SOG: 7.5 kn, ETA: Today,
Monday July 17, 2006 , 1215 HST