A MORE DETAILED UPDATE

Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Tue 10 Jun 2008 05:30
40:15.50N 43:49.40W
 
Over the last 24 hours we have had plenty to keep us occupied.  First and foremost has been the weather.  The reclarent Low that gave us a pasting a few days ago decided not to continue in a westerly direction, but stop, turn north, and then circle back on itself - and us!  So for the past 36 hours we have had fairly strong winds from the NW, enabling good progress but kicking up a very big sea.  No problem in itself, but at 7 kts the motion has been relentless.  Trouble is, the Low has now stopped and pretty much filled (having joined up with a weaker chum), and as I write at 0245 in the morning we are rolling like a pig in a light SW air.  No peace for the wicked!  But it makes a change from sailing under the tripple reefed main and the staysail.
 
How do we know all this?  GRIB files!  After much frustrated cursing by the skipper over the past 2 days as he failed to coax the necessary 3-4 minute connection out of the satellite, Tom has managed a good download of the synoptic charts twice in the last 48 hrs.  This has been really valuable in enabling us to steer clear of the centre of the blow a few days ago, and now analysing the best course to make the most of the winds available.  Top marks to Tommy!
 
Yesterday was a better day with regards the motion, and we had a fairly productive day.  Minor repairs were progressed - the cooker should now be less inclined to jump its gimbles, and the new mainsheet has a new block to match.  However, just as Sarah was enjoying, over the galley sink, a much looked forward to hair wash, the skipper notice, as he reached into the stbd cockpit locker, that George was working loose on his mountings.  This was serious - if George goes out of action we will be into 2 watches for the remainder of the trip.  Tom, who was snatching some sleep in the aft cabin, suddenly found umpteen boxs of stores in bed with him as the skipper took the aft stbd compartment to bits in an effort to get to the head of George's securing bolts.  Having located these, we then needed to empty the contents of the cockpit locker - may not sound much, but with heavy water containers deep inside them and access only fit for a contortionist, and the boat constantly trying to jump off waves, it takes its toll.  Nonetheless, we managed to access the securing nuts from one side and the bolt heads from the other, and with the aid of the indomitable 'Consumbales bag' and some of its magic contents (locktite this time) succeeded in effecting repairs that we believe should hold out for the rest of the trip.
 
Gilbert has also been demanding attention.  Two nights ago the hourly log reading that we record was clearly showing that he was not producing.  After the normal checks for weed proved negative, at 0030 this proved too much of a mystery for the skipper to resolve immediately.  Dawn saw two heads pronder the problem, and dispite Ian's understanding of electrics only extending to monkeys swinging though trees, we managed to identify a fuse holder connection having succumbed to the motion - the spring that holds the fuse tight in place having worked up over the fuse itself.  So another major success in the wear and tear department, and Gilbert is back to pumping out his amps
 
What else?  Ian and the skipper both had shaves, and now look half civilised. Sarah completed her hairwash, despite being abandonded by her husband in favour of repairing George.   Ian smelt steaks on the wind despite there being spagetti on the boil and no ships in sight.  We have sailed over 1000 miles since departing Bermuda, and 2000 miles since departing Deale, MD.  Dolphins seem to visit us every dawn and most dusks; the skipper has had his sextant out again now that the sun has reappeared; woolly hats are appearing at night as the temperatures drop (the sea temp is now donw to 15.5C, having been 20.2C at Bermuda), the bread gets better and better (and the chef's language from the galley more and more colourful as yet another meal catapults into the cupboards on a particularly heavy roll).
 
That will do for now.  Any longer and the satellite will certainly not be able to accept this, and you will get very bored.  And that headsail needs adjustment - again!