Day 7 - A breakage today
Bonkers
Donald Macdonald
Mon 26 Jun 2023 16:19
|
Position: 49.40N 9.25W
Some of you may have thought there has been something
missing from these updates recently, not today. Black spinnaker went up at 0800
and the Belgium Jib (others I have it a 'Dutch Cap') did get me 1.5 knots extra
speed in the then 12 knots wind. After a couple hours decided I do need to get
more easting's in, should probably have tried harder for them yesterday. Whilst
setting up for the gybe, boom gybe preventer removed and 2nd pole put on
spinnaker. Due to the rollyness of the sea the boom gybed although only 180
degrees to wind as mainsheet caught around winch handle knew had to let it go
back as would have been very awkward to untangle went back no problem operated
jogger button on autopilot control and did gybe properly ensuring sheet not
catching on anything. Once settled down leeward side spinnaker pole removed. No
breakages, excellent.
Went for a nap after a few hours later for 60 minutes.
Woke as something had changed, a noise, motion not sure what. From bunk could
see spinnaker flying freely, all good, but wait that side should be held down
with the pole. Now know have spinnaker on the loose jump from bunk, shoes and
foul weather trousers on. Inspection showed the spinnaker guy rope had chaffed
through by spinnaker pole. Shackle still on sail, guy trailing in the water.
Lucky this happened with the spinnaker in the snuffer as all I needed to do was
pull snuffer down to kill spinnaker working. If not I would have had to do a
complete spinnaker drop to retrieve shackle, tie guy on and then pack spinnaker
before re-hoisting. Guy tied to shackle and pull snuffer up, did take I think
about 20 minutes to get snuffer up due snuffer jamming on sail partly because of
gybe earlier and it twisted a few times lower down when repairing guy. Jib was
not put out as could introduce other problems with the Belgium Jib still up and
all those extra lines going past top swivel.
The wind is supposed to build as the day goes on so I
suspect if not already down will drop the spinnaker before dark so to reduce
risk of foul ups of not seeing what sheet has caught on what if 20 knots arrive
or unseen gusts hit as clouds do seem to be building in the distance. So far
Harold Snr is coping well with the conditions the longer swell and extra speed.
Long may it continue.
Dinner will be Chicken & Vegetable big soup,
baguette (last one on board), lump of cheese then pear halves. Snacks overnight
Jelly Babies, Ginger Nut biscuits and part of Bourneville Dark Chocolate
bar.
|