We are not in this rally for the win!
After all… it’s a Rally, not a Race.

So when Neli and I, at 4:00 a.m., went through the delightful process of taking down “the scaffolding” (meaning: two spinnaker poles holding the Genoa and the Code 0) in order to set the spinnaker, it certainly had nothing to do with the fact that a couple of boats were getting a little too close and were obviously meant to sail behind us.
Absolutely nothing. Really!
…Or maybe just a teeny, tiny little bit?

Anyway! We made some wonderfully comfortable miles during the day and decided—very heroically—to leave the spinnaker up through the night, though with extra caution. (Which means leaving on the Streaming light to see the sail and stare at it while hoping it won’t collapse, as the wind eases off… a bit like making a soufflé in the oven!) 

The rest of the day felt like sliding back into the groove of a Covid lockdown: making Christmas decorations with the boys, baking Lamingtons, running cooking experiments involving chocolate and bananas, playing games, and reviving our beloved Sundowner ritual.

A special highlight broke up the day: Neli and his daughter Helena visited the Haribo shop and must have spent 600 hours wrapping little packages with treats for each and every one of us!
I have to say, I was genuinely touched by the amount of effort our crew—and his family—put into preparing this trip. So much work and so much heart! I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to make up for it.

Editor’s Note: At all times of the sail change, life jackets were worn, the surroundings were well illuminated, and the swell was very mild—just in case anyone was wondering.