3 Petrel 2 Tuna 1 week
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Fri 16 Jan 2009 18:00
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3 Petrel, 2 Tuna and week one
at sea en route to Barbados.
Today Friday the 16th January 2009,
we have been at sea for a week. Photos when we get in the other side. We left
Mindelo at 13:00 to toots, fog horns, a trumpeter and good cheer, we were the
fourth boat to leave. Usual high winds and sandy haze. High rolly sea in channel
between Santo Antao and Mindelo.
First night there was a stunning full
moon, so bright 4:00 am had the same light as 4:00 pm, virtually able to read
small print by it. As is the norm it took three days to settle into routine,
Bear nibbles at biscuits as he cannot find his appetite. I don't sleep properly
until exhaustion takes over, only then can I fall into sleeping off
watch.
Wind - Everything from 3.5 to 35 knots. Fluky for four and a half days, now
settled into an average of 20 knots plus.
Sailing on Genoa ( front sail ) only.
Sea -
Extremely rolly for three days, now huge following trenches,
friendly crests, following swell. Very few try to soak us - but - when it
happens it's like someone
chucking
in a wheelbarrow full. Fortunately the sea is not too cold and we don't mind
paddling in our crocs in the cockpit.
Weather - Mostly overcast, frequent squalls and odd bits of rain. No problem with
Gazebo up ( conservatory without the sides in ). Now sunny and
bright.
Distances - Per 24 hours per day are 127, 117,
117, 118, 129, 146 and 156 miles. Total so far 910 - to go 1220 ish.
Lowlights
- Day two. I had had a very poor rest and tried to get ready for
duty at 18:00 but couldn't find my trousers. I had to speak sharply to the
Captain, "Please
don't become a Gerry-Bear" ( that is Geriatric Bear ). He not only had my
trousers on but when I looked into my juice glass to see if I
needed to top up,
there was a lump of biscuit floating where he had been munching and a wave caught me...... He then asked me if I had seen the
man over board wrist
band. NOT pleased. I replaced my juice
and fell through the office door as a big wave hit, first two bruises coming, if
this is only day two - not to continue
for the remaining 1885 miles of the trip. MOB wrist band later found in his
anorak pocket........................
Day four. Bear was thrown against fly/sunscreen in our bathroom, half inch
gash on the top left of his head to go with the one on the crown coming
through the office door and the one at the front from scrabbling in the engine.
He will have to wear a crash hat and stop bleeding on his
pillowcase.
It's hard to believe it takes twenty minutes to get from the cockpit to our
bathroom and back in these seas.
Highlights - Flying fish, very beautiful but with suicidal tendencies, means skipper
gathers the bodies ( many tiny ) every day at chafe inspection.
My new personal best speed of 10.2 will mean zip to the racers out there, but
I'm chuffed to bits.
Bear saw a small freighter on day three, nothing else, something amazing about
having the ocean to ourselves.
Roast chicken and six veg, homemade stuffing and bread
sauce (provided by galley slave) despite her preparing in what can best be
described as the rinse cycle of a washing machine.
Fresh tuna with roe( Chinese style and as a salad )
We spend our days together. After
lunch we do word searches, fish, read and a few chores get done. Alone we listen
to music, watch DVD's and keep a look out.
VERY BEST
NEWS Jack going home on Monday 19th. Congratulations to Team
Tinson. We wish you every happiness as a family.
All in all a good first week.
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