Day 2 - Wet & Windy
Bonkers
Donald Macdonald
Wed 21 Jun 2023 18:55
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Position: 39.57N 23.14W
It has been a wet night with rain, then a small rest
before heavy rain squalls during the day, one just feels wet even when not and
very humid below. Not too much sleep as AIS alarm going off regularly then a few
close skirmishes in the pitch black trying to work out best course of action to
pass other yachts behind or in front. Wind was about 15 knots more or less on
the beam during that time.
This morning about 0700 the wind went aft and black
spinnaker up and the Belgium Jib to help prevent wraps. Extra knot of boat speed
and Harold Snr coping excellently in the conditions. The sea is a bit lumpy and
confused so no easy surfing, Harold has done a couple of 13 knots. After
breakfast had an hour snooze, then looked around all seemed good so another
snooze. This time woken by an autopilot alarm at full rudder, by time on deck
sorted, sea was now bigger and the breeze getting up 17-18 knots, stayed on deck
as rolling a lot with it too. In one gust we broached, saw the Belgium jib
working stopping the kite go through the fore triangle. Once going again
ensured all ropes were tidy as my rule after 2nd broach spinnaker
down, which we duly had about 15 minutes later when I was seeing 20+ knots. All
down fine, jib poled out to goose wing. Spinnaker and Belgium jib tidied away
and now wind dropped to 13-15 knots, well spinnaker not going up yet, off
for a nap and review. When awoke wind 18-20 knots and surfing 10-12 knots all
good even in messy sea. Harold lost it on one wave and poled out jib backed, I
was below, kit on quick and saw we go backwards in that configuration. Problem
sorted now sailing conventionally still near other yachts as AIS keeps going
off, no sleeping with that alarm activating.
The tablet I use for yacht information in cockpit, stood
on and now has a crack in screen so longer waterproof, will have to adapt for
rest of trip.
Been a few hours since last bit written, in that time
the sun came out, very pleasant and felt dry. The solar has fully charged the
batteries to 100% the 1st time whilst sailing with autopilot on so the
adjustment to absorption charging rate did the trick.
This evening dinner, freshly baked baguette, lump of
cheese, beef casserole then sliced peaches in juice. Snacks overnight will be
bourbon biscuits, jelly babies and a chocolate bar of some sort, lucky dip when
I put my hand in the bag.
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