by Bugs Baer  Tempest Passes Lizard Point

At 1623:31 UTC (12:23 PM on the East Coast), Tempest passed through the first of the finishing lines at Lizard Point, on the tip of Cornwall, after a fast day of sailing.

Land itself was almost invisible, and a foghorn sounded steadily in the grey, misty air as Tempest sped by. For the preceding four hour watch, the boat averaged almost exactly 12 knots in 20 knot air, heeled over under spinnaker, staysail, full main and full mizzen to seize the wind. This is about maximum speed in flat seas.

There are 143 miles left to the final finishing line at the Needles, the western point of the Isle of Wight. Weather forecasts show the wind becoming lighter overnight, the strengthening again in the afternoon. This may hurt Tempest's lead after her two closest competitors, Selini and Whisper, finish ahead of her, but Tempest is now projected to hold most of her lead on handicap. Her ETA at the Needles is estimated for midday Monday, tomorrow.
Almost There

After passing Lizard Point, Tempest has stayed in decent wind and averaged around seven knots toward the finishing line at the Needles, ninety miles away.

Everything is focused on the finish and the end of the race. We are jibing downwind for the better wind offshore. We passed Plymouth and Start Point against a strong tidal current. We are under strict orders from the navigator not to be sucked up into Lyme Bay, where Tempest and the wind will die.

Whisper has lost another twenty miles to us, and Selini is not gaining. The wind will almost die at dawn as a new front arrives from the north. We will beat into the wind for the last few hours. We will have eighteen hours after Selini finishes to hold our handicap, but should finish by noon local time to claim our prize.

We are aware that we are doing everything for the last time. Last dinner. Last look at ''Band of Brothers.'' For my Black Watch, probably midnight will start our last four-hour duty. Then the last dawn, the last miles, and the last of a great adventure.