Sailing
CARANGO AMEL 54 #035
PETER and VICKY FORBES
Fri 24 Feb 2017 05:02
Every now and then we get a squall under a black cloud. Rain pours down and the wind rises to 22 knots or so. Carango heels to the wind and I must ease the main sheet right out until there is hectic flapping and take a reef or two; then in with the sheet again and off we go, more upright now and well in control. Shortly the squall passes overhead the night becomes less dark and I shake out the reef and Carango picks up speed again to repeat the cycle.
It is a thrill to be out here doing this in such an extraordinary place. The crew sleeps, restoring energy so Carango can continue uninterrupted her push North to close the circle. Not far to go now.
What on earth next - I am beginning to ask myself more and more now.
When we get to Cabadelo we go 7 miles up a river to Jacaré marina. There are 9 waypoint zigzagging up the river. We must go up on a rising tide. The high tide up there is at about 3.00pm - we are current 54 miles off the river entrance and estimating arrival there at about 10am - so the timings look about right for immediate entry to the river system.
It is now 01.40am - I have just had a call from an American yacht about 6 miles in front of us to report two small fishing boats with very weak lights close to them. The wind has lessened now to about 8 - 10 knots so we will be closing on those fishing boats in about an hour - so that’s to watch out for.
Tea bags come stuck together in pairs - it is an extraordinary thing that as far as I am concerned I always, or almost always, get the pair and have to split them [usually for some reason with one hand] - why do I never seem to pick up a single?