Day 3 - Gybes, reefs
Bonkers
Donald Macdonald
Thu 22 Jun 2023 17:29
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Position: 42.15N 21.28W
About 2100 last night a little front came through and
suddenly up to 25 knots and lots of broaching under main and jib. Reef 1 went in
all calmed down. By the time I had tidied every thing up wind down to 10-12
knots decided to rest and drink a coffee before doing anything else. By time
finished coffee reef was staying in as was often 20 knot gust and maintaining
good speed, at least Harold Snr was. Had been expecting a shift in wind
direction for a while at midnight it happened so a gybe in the pitch black in
1-2 meter seas had to be done. Not straight forward as the boom gybe preventer
line needs removing, barber hauler on jib needs to come off, as a little windy
the jib gets mostly furled away then time to gybe the main lots of rope to come
in and then tap buttons on autopilot for the turn then on new course, Then all
the downwind setup needs to be put back on.
In the morning wind moderated a little reef out and jib
goose winged. About midday done enough northing's and gybed hoping to keep about
040 in an attempt to stay out of the band of little or no wind further East, for
the most part course about 045.
Went very close to Fidelitas, easy to spot as has a red
poodle cage over the hatch, early afternoon with Bonkers trying to keep
low and Fidelitas not able to do so to keep jib driving. Came up a few
degrees passed in front and came down the couple of degrees. They are now some 5
miles to windward I'm sure we will meet again when we expect to gybe again
tomorrow late afternoon.
Been slowly overtaking the Class 4 boats that went west
at the start, now with hindsight going East was a big mistake.
Very warm in the boat now at 28 degrees and unable
to get a through draft.
Dinner was Chicken Big Soup, chunk of cheese, freshly
baked baguette then pear halves in juice. Suspect sweets tonight will be wine
gums, biscuits dark chocolate digestives and a picnic bar.
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