Day 6 - Hooray a little bit of Reaching
Bonkers
Donald Macdonald
Sun 25 Jun 2023 16:28
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Position: 47.59N 12.40W
3 meter seas and quartering waves making life difficult
for Harold. We are reaching with apparent wind about 100 degrees. During the
night with one reef in and barber hauled jib with gust above 25 knots under the
even blacker clouds in the darkness Harold would lose it and take about 10-15
seconds to get back on course. I had a go with this steering lark and was all
over the place, trying to follow a compass course and not seeing the waves to
steer into or away I was quite bad, well very bad so let Harold be the boss of
steering. Some gust had a lot of rain with it to keep me even happier. Up on
deck watching and feeling movement feels a lot worse than when below at times
feels very sedate until you look at the instruments. On deck you can see control
is about to be lost due to waves below all seems good only hearing the alarms
notifies one there has been a problem.
A few ships seen on AIS overnight including a French
Warship, nothing within distance to see when I was on deck although one came
within a mile of me when asleep, not close enough to set off my AIS
alarm.
Having sung Harold Snr praises earlier he did have a
turn for about 30 minutes where he had obviously been on the pop again. Post
hangover he is fine again.
Quite a relaxed day as when tried to fly the spinnaker
going in to broaches because of the randomness of the waves, the nice clean
swell hoping for not coming through and the sea state is supposed to build
overnight. Tried the asymmetric once again not finding a way to fly and be
stable with direction required especially in the little gusts coming through
under the clouds. Do feel under powered, as unable to see other yachts on AIS
not frustrating me that much as do not know speed that would be good.
Doublehanded definitely one or the other would be flying as assistance is
available if required.
For those who may have felt a little short of snack
information yesterday sweets were Liquorice Allsorts, Choc Chip biscuits and a
picnic. Tonight will be wine gums, garibaldi biscuits and what ever lucky dip
chocolate bar that comes out.
Tonights delights include Irish Stew, cooked baguette,
chunk of cheese then I think sliced apricots in
juice.
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