Sitrep no 4 (I think)
Britishsoldier
Mon 6 Jun 2011 06:31
A frustrating 24hrs, drifting along with too many sail changes for the watches' liking, with just one moment of excitement for Clarke Smal on the helm, weaving a slalom course between a mass of flotsam of timber flotsam.
And after another night of steering to a traditional compass (quite a novelty these days) mounted far from the helmsman and lit by a very dim cylume, came an inspired suggestion from Andy Bristow in Afghanistan to kick-start the alternator. A few sparks later and we're now charging both batteries!!!! Thanks Andy. This is, after all, the fellow who in 1989 deep in the Southern Ocean figured that that the flooded GPS had 'blown its chip', so he replaced it with the chip from the microwave cooker and got it working again. As a celabration of the charging of batteries and raising of spirits we're allowed a can of morale each and playing regimental marches at full volume, even the Royal Signals one! (the Yanks can't hear us mad Brits out here).
We're probably a bit down the rankings, but the wind has started to pick up and we've only another 150-odd miles to go. Must be in by Tuesday eve - New York Yacht Club party.
Catch you soon.
Nick & the team.
Annapolis-Newport Race tracker: http://www.race.annapolisyc.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=151
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