Update from Sunstone

Other people are updating stuff, some of which is getting up on the SSANZ facebook page. here is an update from Tom & Vicky on Sunstone:

"Sorry that we missed reporting during the last half of the leg. We missed Day 4 because it was fairly bouncy beating and I didn't get the computer out. We missed yesterday out of depression and embarrassment.

On Thursday afternoon we had a delightful beat in sunny weather past the Kaikoura Coast, heading into the approaches to Cook Strait. At the evening sched things were looking good and we were well in with the 'aft' end of the fleet. At that point we took our LTO (lightning tack to oblivion) by heading east to stay out of the complications of the strait tides. As it happened those who stood on, Pelagian and Vingilot (the latter particularly) got on the inside of a later major lift, which brought them out well ahead of us by morning. How depressing! The next day's beating to get in with the coast did nothing to cheer us up, while the following day's more pleasant, but demanding windward work was tiring as we struggled to make up some ground. And we did, but not enough to over come the deficit, especially when the evening and night vagaries of Hawke Bay took over and we spent six and a half hours to get from Cape Kidnappers to the finish - one hour of which for the last mile. That we have come second in IRC is still something of a miracle, but we are now well out of contention for the Race overall. Truxton clearly sailed a blinder as did Surreal, while Coppelia must be pretty pleased with themselves as well. However, we think that Vingilot crew, Charles and Matt, are the heroes of the leg. They have taken a heavy cruiser through heavy and light, with a lot of windward work and by our calculations now lie third overall by determination, persistence and skill. Great stuff!

Regards T&V"