Day 3 - Glassy Sea Everywhere
Bonkers
Donald Macdonald
Wed 17 Jan 2024 17:49
Still motoring as wind lucky to see 2 knots for the last 10 hours and forecast to be the same for another 12-18 hours. This mornings 0800 watch changed switched the engine off for 10 minutes to let the oil settle to see how much to add, probably a little over 0.5 litres. Starter battery still has intermittant drain on it with engine off. Engine started and then added 40 litres of fuel, Working on using 1.5 litres an hour so estimated till now consumed 75 litres.
Another defect observed the remote VHF handheld charging cradle at the wheel stopped charging overnight. Not a problem now away from various distress signals testing and otherwise that need cancelling so off watch member of crew can continue sleeping.
This afternoon John believes he saw a coupe of illegals motoring about 4-5 knots in the distance in an African type long 30 foot wooden fishing vessel. With direction going and how far south they are going looks like they will miss all the Canary Islands. They may be lucky when dark and may see the light pollution from one.
This morning we had probably about 50 dolphins swimming and play with and near us. One dolphin must have jumped 6 feet and was waggling his body in flight looking like trying to get more distance. The biggest jump I have seen. There were also a group of infants, about 3-4 feet doing vertical back flips. It was a fun 20 minutes or so.
Dinner this evening ravioli, cheese, baked baguette then madarins in juice,