Spindrift ARC Log - Day 17

Austins' Travels
Chris & Lynn Austin
Tue 6 Dec 2011 15:00
This was a night of squalls with torrential rain and winds of 25 knots gusting to over 30 knots which went round to the south. After struggling a bit with both headsails but moving at 8-9 knots with a maximum of 10.5 knots but being blown a bit off course we reduced to one headsail only and still made a very respectable 7 knots for most of the night. In the morning with 25 knots of wind and bigger swells of 2.5-3 metres with additional wind waves that were quite confused. Several times we took a direct hit from the the side and the cockpit was dowsed. We changed rig totally and set up a conventional reefing headsail and mainsail and were able to come on course on a beam reach (wind at right angles to the boat). The change was quite exciting with three crew on the foredeck pitching up and down by about 5 metres evry 10-15 seconds as we motored into the wind and waves to make the sail change 'easier'. But all was done professionally and safely and after about an hour we were re-rigged. Of course, during the morning the wind eased and the sea calmed but we were still making about 6 knots.

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