(Blog No. 40) Life inside a washing machine!
Catou
Paul and Sylvie Tucker
Fri 10 Dec 2010 14:26
|
14:57.94N 45:52.56W
Friday 10th December (Day 19)
Noon
Position:
14 deg 58'N 45 deg 53'W
Daily
Run:
154'
Average
speed:
6.42 Knots
Total average speed: 5.05
Knots
Total distance covered: 2311'
Distance to
go:
878'
No. of motoring hours: 57.7
hours
ETA St. Lucia: @ 6 Knots
Thursday @ 1200hrs
@5.5
" Friday @
0100hrs
@
5 "
Friday @1700hrs
@4.5
" Saturday @1300hrs
Well, we are still being battered by the trades! After 4
or 5 days, the body is sort of used to it, but it's hard work to do
anything. Something as simple as washing up becomes a huge chore. It is
difficult to sleep well, but we do manage to doze! Also, the hatches are
all closed due to spray, so you lie on top of your bunk in a constant sweat with
no breeze available!
Due to the wind direction, we are now having trouble
steering due west (270 deg T) - our direct course to St. Lucia.
Instead, while on the starboard tack, the best we can manage is 300 deg T,
so we are steering too far to the north and will end up in Leeward Islands or
even further north. Therefore, we are having to gybe her in the morning, and go
more southwards on the port tack. This morning it is blowing force 7 - 8
(gale force) and it is a bit like living in a washing machine. We had to
be very careful when gybing her this morning in such strong winds.
We are fully reefed down with 3 reefs in the mainsail and the genoa
well rolled in.
The trouble with this 'tacking down wind' is that it's
adding mileage to our distance to go, and therefore will delay our ETA
somewhat.
There have been no significant events over the last 24
hours. Yesterday, we emptied the after locker again, and I climbed down
into it and had another look at Dobbie's nuts, as they have become known!
They seemed OK, and we will keep a careful eye on them. There must be a
tremendous strain on that bracket.
We are still able to eat fresh veg and meat and there
are a few oranges left to finish. Sylvie's victualling has been a great
success. She has worked out the food requirements with great precision and
it all seems to have gone according to plan so far. She has prepared for
25 days, which looks to be just about right! A big event while typing has just
taken place - Ben has just seen the glass coffee 'bodem' fly out of his hand and
smash to pieces in the galley sink! Oh well, that's instant coffee from
now on!
Oh well, we keep bashing on!
|