Ushant and Biscay
Amazing Grace
John and Julie
Mon 1 Jun 2009 13:28
47.16.0 W 6.16.7). The wind is now none existent and we are motoring.
Last night all was looking good till we went to reduce sail and found the
mainsail would not come down. In the face of an increasing wind, we saught
shelter in Lampaul in Ushant. However, on the way the fog came down and we
did a lights out GPS approach into this (as it turns out) completly unlit
harbour. We eventually found a mooring and tied up to it.
I went up the mast and found the sail car jammed by a screw that had backed
out of the mast. Thread stripped. We managed to lower the main and get some
rest.
This morninng we got a message bak the ZSpars (the mast makers) consider
this not to be an issue (but then again Marylin might have if she had gone
up the mast in the thick wet fog! (Did I mention that almost as soon as we
tied up to our mooring, the fog thickened and you could not even see the
lights of the village?
So off we went again at 6 am - hence our slow speed. However, we were soon
bowling along at 7-8 kts under our parasailor and then even faster as the
wind strengthened. We dropped the Parasailor.
Back to white sails, we made good speed until in the afternoon it was time
to deal with some more problems. We found that the core of both furling
lines had come out of the furling drum anchorage and it was a struggle to
furl either of the foresails fully. We will try and take them apart
tomorrow and get everything as it should be.
Anyway, apart from being a little fatigued we are doing well with a very
fine bolognese by Julie this evening. Other pastimes included fishing and
untangling the new fising lines. As yet no fish! However, we had a
smallbird land to inspect the living accommodation. We thought we were fine
but not up to his standards as he left"
Then there was a barn owl, dolphins, the French Navy (plane and ship) as
well as a sighting of the Oriana bound for Southampton.
anyway, its night time now and time to get the weather so we'll say night
night and see you tomorrow.