THINGS WE WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT
Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Mon 16 Jun 2008 15:10
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46:07.70N 28:52.80W
Noon-noon run: 108m.
The weather systems obviously have access to the
GRIB files, as the wind has done exactly as it was forecast to do over the past
24 hrs: continue to steadily veer from west of north, through east and now to
south. So yesterday eveing we were hard on the wind on port tack,
gradually being headed more and more. As planned, we tacked when our
course became greater than 130M (about 1900), but, inevitably, this meant we
were now headed c. 030M, straight into the sea that had previously built
up. The waves were not large; in fact, it would have been better if they
were, as they would then have had a longer wavelength. As it was, we were
faced with driving over a very short, confused sea - OK when the wind was F3,
but on the occasions when it dropped below this progress was very slow.
And the motion!!! Sarah did superbly to create an excellent evening meal -
not sure what it was, but it went down well!
So progress thorugh the night was painfully slow,
and the wind seemed to take a breather with regard to continuing its veer to
south. Tom recorded 9 miles progress during his 3 hour night watch, and
Ian 11; Alan did slightly better at 12! Hence the poor noon-noon
distance. However, at 0800 the wind pipped up and settled South by East,
and we are now going nicely at 6.5kts in the right direction (080M). Long
may it last!
Things we would not be without on this
trip:
- Wind!
- George
- Gilbert
- Joy (the washing up liquid that lathers in
salt water)
- Gill boots - thank you a million times,
Tim
- babywhipes
- Sarah!!!
- Ipods (although the skipper does not have
one)
- dolphins
- fresh bread
- more fresh bread
- GRIB files
- tin opener!
Highlights to look forward to today: another
glorious batch of loaves from the galley, and also a tray of chocolate
brownies.
Finally: under 1000 miles to go to
Falmouth. The skipper's statement of a few days ago that we had reached
the half way marked was based on an erroneously selected Bermudian waypoint -
which was in fact about 600 miles up track! At least the error was in the
'right' direction!
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