Grand Finale
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 10 Jun 2013 12:00
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What a Grand Finale – Not
Really Expected
Day Twenty Two:
Monday the 10th of June
Midday Position: 22:49.06 South and
133:40.02 West.
Miles Covered: 88
I jumped up to offer the skipper, as
always, three choices for lunch. He chose tuna steak, French
beans and of course a big dollop of mash please
– so glad I would have my usual Frosties,
as facing that lot when it seems you’ve just got up feels wrong in so many ways.
We put the fishing line out with a
plan, that if we caught, we would share our catch with any boats in the
anchorage when we got settled. Many sea birds came to investigate the lure and
something very big and nasty got hold of the hook, it took both of us to steady
the reel and we were not too bothered when the beast from the deep got free. End
of fishing experience on this journey. Line wound in, we found the hook almost
straight, really glad we didn’t have to fight the culprit that did that in the
cockpit.
After the fishing palaver, skipper
checked on the towing generator, yet again doing the
sterling job it did crossing the Pond. Not so certain about the new garden on the swim ladder. In the sunshine the sea
takes on a magnificent shade of blue.
Mixed skies
and winds growing in strength.
In the afternoon we took the business
of tacking seriously for the first time - like real sailors - until we realised
it could take us weeks to get in. RighteeOoo, engine on.
At dusk (or as usual my watch), which
in my sailing history has been the duty when if anything odd happens to wind,
sea or Beez, it is now. I’m suddenly careening along at 7.4 knots in 33-38 knots
of wind. Now I’m working out that we will arrive in the dark before
dawn...........Mmmmmmm.
My gently snoring
skipper unaware of all the sums being done by the first mate.
Oooops. Our
Ensign has suddenly felt the battering of heavy winds. Maybe somewhat
shorter after repairs.
Bear puts the
conservatory up for the hundredth time, more rain.
Gave us a nice rainbow,
though.
Our last
sunset on this voyage (hopefully) was lovely
At ten or my bedtime, we decide to
keep going as we are and I will motor very slowly when I come on at two. Great I
get to lower my personal averages, yeah but you’re good
at it. Steady....... Bear continues the ‘screaming along speed’
during his ten till two and overshoots the islands to give me eight miles at two knots - to give you something to do and aim
for....... and to allow him his full sleep time. I come on knowing I
have to bimble. Genoa in. Engine on. Rough seas. Big winds. Huge
fun.......
This picture
shows my lack of progress. Crazy currents and motoring in to winds of up
to thirty six knots proved lumpy and tiresome for the autopilot which kept up a
steady bleeping. There was I now stuck into my audiobook called Brethren, the
Knights Templar have just lost the Grail and the party accompanying the Crown
Jewels have just been attacked. Mmmm. The one knot of speed with eight miles to
do was frustrating but I was a patient sort and battled on. As the skipper
appeared at six I was proud to announce in the very first peak of dawn, “Sand
and Shale” no just messing - “Land Ahoy” YEEeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
ALL IN ALL ARE WE THERE YET
???
NEARLY BUT NOT
QUITE |