Spindrift ARC Log - Day 20
Austins' Travels
Chris & Lynn Austin
Fri 9 Dec 2011 13:17
265 nautical miles to go.
We have motored in almost no wind all yesterday, all night (except for a valiant attempt that resulted in sailing at about 3-4 knots for 3 hours until the wind died again) and so far today.
On the radio report at midday all the other boats that are about 100 miles in front and 100 miles astern were reporting 5 knots of wind or less. For Spindrift that qualifies as 'no wind'.
The fuel situation looks OK but it will be very close if we can't sail at all. At this rate we will arrive on Sunday morning/lunchtime.
It is a surreal feeling to be out in the Atlantic when it is totally windless.
We stopped the motor yesterday in order to check the oil level and the boat just
gradually stops and sits in a mirror calm sea with only a slight roll. It is
totally quiet except for the small noises and creaks of the rigging due to
the roll. We delayed restarting for a few minutes just to enjoy the moment
... and then donk, donk, donk the engine starts and we plod on.
We had a bite from a very big fish late yesterday that, in one bite, severed the line and took the wire trace, lure and hooks - another one we probably didn't want to try to land.
Still we continue to try to catch something we can manage.
Everyone is very well and looking forward to arriving. It wasn't too hot last night because we are able to open windows as it is so calm. Usually all windows are shut due to the danger of the odd wave breaking against us - and it only takes one to deposit salt water on valued possessions, beds, etc - or of forgetting to shut them when the rain starts. The overnight watches passed on strict instructions to each new watch to run round and shut all hatches if it rained. Therefore everyone slept OK (meaning 4-5 hours in a couple of sessions).
It was a lovely moonlit night on the middle watch (0100-0500) and I watched a large cloud bank in the distance to the south as it lit up every now and then with a big flash of lightening. Fortunately the weather was coming from the west so it was no threat (although it did cause me to double check the direction of travel of the clouds). I was pleased we weren't further south. Being the only pointy metal thing for many miles in a flat sea under a lightening storm is not recommended. Apart from any other problems, a lightening strike will fry all the electrics and electronics so our strategy in this event is to put critical electronics in the oven (satphone, handheld GPS, EPIRB, phone) which we hope will act as a Faraday box and protect them. However, there is no sign of any similar storms in our path at present.