My how things have changed. After a less than stellar entrance to Bella Bella by going from 1st to 3rd in a snap, we haven’t been able to regain much momentum. Riding a fresh southwesterly out into Hecate Strait on Thursday night and then hoping for the predicted 10 to 20 knot northwesterly turned into a bust. We basically parked in the doldrums while Sail Like A Girl made it out and Lagopus went to the inside. It happens in racing, though, we’re well aware of that. When the northerly did finally show up at 5 pm, we used every bit of it and made big strides on the leaders. 
Alas, as we sit in the doldrums again, it seems to be too little too late. We’re 80 miles from Ketchikan and are pedaling. It’s all we can do. Fortunately, spirits amongst the boys are high. Did we ever imagine being in this position in the R2AK in a 1978 Santa Cruz 27 that was purchased off Craigslist and then brought back from the ashes in less than a year? Hell no. And to have kept pace and even lead a Melges 32, Olson 30 and others. We’ll take it. We’re having the time of our lives!
Ed. Note: Sail Like a Girl is still ahead and appears to be moving out a little on Lagopus. But of course it wouldn’t be R2AK if there wasn’t potential for surprise. While it looks like our friends on Wild Card won’t even get the steak knives (damn), they won everyone’s respect. The fleet behind appears to be enjoying the southerly that Hedrick wrote about yesterday.