Windy

Blanshard
Wed 2 Jun 2010 23:27
Position 39 03.63N 55 16.56W  Log reading 13222.7  148 miles covered
 
A hard 24 hours!  The wind yesterday increased over and above the forecast we had to blow us along with greater speed than expected.  At times it was howling estimated F8 + in gusts.  Fortunately we already had our third reef in but unfortunately we got a wrap in the genoa which then wouldn't wind up - too much sail and stress for the rigging (glad it was new).  Eventually after some stoic efforts by James to unwrap the sheets we managed to unfurl the genoa and drop it altogether with great relief.  We could then enjoy surfing down the rollers which were getting bigger and bigger - we debated the size of them as one does but agreed that they must have been at least 3m and up to 4m high?  After a few hours we had had enough but couldn't turn the wind off.  It did eventually die in the evening so we fired up the engine to charge batteries and it lasted half a minute.   None of us could face looking into it further so we shut down everything, hand steering and into 'power save mode'.
Not much sleep for any of us overnight but we set to work on the engine.  Problem immediately apparent looking at the primary diesel filter - full of water!  A mystery as to how it got there but all drained, filters replaced and the engine is humming away as are we.  Ambling along now at a gentle pace but quite happy with a bit of a respite.  Headboard slides on the mainsail repared and looking forward to lunch.