We're Back !!! (for now at least)

Cat-man-do
Sat 17 May 2008 02:08
Sorry for the lack of blogs to read but some of you may be aware we had a total laptop failure which left us with no communications or access to weather information. As you can see, it now appears to be working again, but for how long? Who knows?
Things changed fairly substantially after writing the last blog, not least in the weather. We'd been having a cracking sail on a broad reach, heading Northwards towards Bermuda, however as we got further North the wind changed and gradually pushed us further East, which in itself isn't a problem. However some very dark clouds started to appear on the horizon, announcing the immenent arrival of some pretty major squalls.
On seeing these it was decided to to take down the Genoa (our largest sail at the front) before they arrived and started causing problems. Before we could even geton deck though, there was a very loud "bang" as something hit the roof of the cabin. We both went outside, but neither could see what the problem was or where the noise came from. It soon became clear though as we started to roll in the Genoa that something definitely wasn't right. It was very hard to roll in and after a couple of minutes we realised what the problem was. A shackle that holds the sail at the top of the forestay had broken and the sail was now about 4 feet from the top of the forestay where it should be. The squalls were by this time beginning to make themselves felt by way of rapidly increasing winds, and with a small amount of brute force and gentle verbal persuation we managed to get the sail furled away. The only problem now is that it's not useable until after we make some repairs hopefully in the Azores.
The winds rising then were just the start of a pretty miserable few days weather wise. We consistantly had winds in the force 7-8 region and an overnight period of Gale force 9 with driving rain just about constant for 3 days or so. It's very difficult to describe being on a yacht in the middle of the night with 25 foot waves coming at you with winds of just short of 50 miles an hour, driving rain and being in the middle of a very active Electrical storm. Lots and lots of lightning all around the boat, both sheet and forked lightning heading from cloud to cloud and just as often down to the sea. Being sat on a boat with probably the biggest lightning conductor for thousands of miles in the shape of a metal mast, isn't the most "secure" of feelings. We did however survived intact, and are now making very slow progress towards the Azores (note to work, I may need an extra set of shifts off from the 12th of June at this rate)
I must say at this point that Andrew is a crackin' lad to have along on the trip, I can honestly say, I've never eaten so well on a boat, Thanks mate.
 
We are presently about 1000 miles West of the Azores with it would appear some rather difficult weather to come. It would appear the trades haven't set in at all yet as they're supposed to, we'll have to wait and see.
 
If you hear no more from me for a while, you can assume the laptop's died again, so unless you hear any different, there's no need to worry.
 
Take care
 
Bri & Andrew x