Day 5 ....All the Variety of the Ocean
Akarana
Graham Deegan
Sat 21 May 2011 20:21
Last night was a classic ocean perfection. 15 knots of beam wind in a southerly direction enabling us to romp along in comfort. Not much sea... warm and pleasant. An excellent dinner of purple chicken sprouting stir fry and jasmine rice was prepared by the Doc. Road Runner's watch for the first time was not heralded by the onset of rain. Only moonlight and fine sailing. The Dawn watch of Nipper & Double Gloucester (Farmer Giles re-named) saw a pod of dolphins and the Doc was summoned to pronounce on the event.
Mother & the Nipper saved the day by fixing the water-maker pressure control all important won't work without it valve. Tanks were filled to the brim and the hose pipe ban lifted. Mother and Double Gloucester were very quick to take to the shower and rumour has it that the Doc was showering in his life jacket. No photographic evidence was produced, so your narrator is a little sceptical. However the Doc has had to admit to the Nipper that he is running around the saloon in his boxer shorts because he is using the walk in engine room as a laundry.
The perfect storm was programmed to get us again for the matinee event. Doc is pictured quite unaware of the menace creeping up behind him. 30knots true and all the rain which should be destined for the UK was hosed on Akarana. The Nipper, being the only one priveledged enough to have a black souwester, is taking on the persona of Darth Vader in more ways than one.
Now it seems the Gulf Stream might at last be in our favour... Trucking along at 10 - 12 knots speed over ground. water temp 22 deg C. The smell of good cooking from the galley. The prospect of a hot shower. The Doc is dressing for dinner. Akarana is a Happy ship.
The Prof
