Day Five
00.01 23.22N 22.39W ( 21-00 – 00.00 Watch Report ) Bearing 258 degrees;
wind true 15 – 18kts, SOG 6kts. Heavy cloud came earlier before the watch
start to eclipse the moonlight which reappeared around 23.10. Shortened
sail and adjusted the downhaul and aft stay on the Port side pole. The lines
were slack and moving around too much. Lost sight of other ARC vessel
to Starboard at 22.30 then got visual again at midnight. E.Mc
0300 23.07N 23.12W ( 00.00 – 03.00 Watch Report ) COG 255 degrees Wind
light giving SOG of just 5 – 6kts. Now have just one boat as company off
Starboard quarter. Distance covered in Watch 15.1nm. RT
06.00 23.07N 23.12W ( 03.00 - 06.00 Watch Report ) Wind speed 12kts Bearig 255
One boat astern showing white masthead light.. Distance covered in Watch
was 18.3nm giving a 6.1 nm p/hr average. MS
08.30 Wind ENE 10-15 kts resulted in SOG of 5-7kts. Clock and battery check
Latter down to 22.8V. Switched on generator , we then switched on both FN
battery chargers, water maker and hot water. FN
09.00 The forecast for our area (Yasmin) as received from the ARC office by e-mail
is winds 20-25kts, waves 6-8 ft with occasional showers. Mike did his old
faithful, porridge for breakfast which we ate out in the already warm sun
shine. FN
10.30 Generator switched off (2hr run) Batteries since showing 25.8V. FN
11.00 Everyone starts to go about their daily activities – Ray sits basking in the sun sewing
up a toweling headband for the hot days ahead, Eugene occasionally keeps his eye
on our fishing line as he gets deeper into Frederick Forsythe’s ‘The Afghan’. Mike
meanwhile is down below is trying to reduce digital pics using various software
in the hope we can maybe send some pics to the blog sites. I continue to spend
my time here at my laptop on the Nav table either entering the log information,
sending receiving ARC related e-mails or listening / transmitting on the SSB to
other vessels.
12.00 22.49N 23.46W Noon position taken. FN
12.04 E-mailed ARC control with 12.00 hrs position. having been unable to get thru
until now FN
12.15 Power re-instated to mast furling motor. Found tripped MCB in Port side forward
cabin FN
14.00 Daily roll call on ARC C4. Position given for relaying to Cowes as back up to
e-mail. FN
14.45 Wind changed to enable us to resume course to bearing 251 being the 20.00N
30.00W waypoint which appears from radio traffic to be gaining in popularity
as an option. FN
15.40 Further wind backing forced us onto a course of 269 degrees which necessitated
us dropping ballooner and bringing out main and mizzen putting us on a broad
reach. Clock and batteries checked. Latter indicated down to 22.5v. FN
18.00 22.35N 24.14W True wind speed, 13kts. SOG 5.5 - 6.3kts Cook Ray started to
prepare the evening dinner of pate starter followed by a main course, hot pot
topped by an excellent pastry crust followed by chocolate orange sponge
pudding. Eugene spotted the fishing line moving and hey, we caught us a Dorade.
It was landed, gutted and popped into the fridge for tomorrow’s dinner. FN
18.30 Generator started ; hot water, battery chargers put on.
19.31 DSC Alert received from yacht Talulah (#27) which had been boarded by illegal
immigrants. They overpowered the guys and the Spanish are sending a boat to
take them off.
21.00 22.28N 24.50W Watch change 21 – 00 FN/ 00 – 03 EMc / 03-06 RT/ 06-09 MS
ENE True wind speed 14kts, having to still sail the wind 4 degrees
off course with COG 254 degrees SOG 6.5kts. FN
21.45 Generator switched off. (3.75 h rs). Lone yacht abreast of us to Port FN
00.00 22.23N 24.54W Distance done over past twenty four hours -145 nm.