Gale

L'Esprit de la Mer
Dr Chris Bates
Fri 8 Mar 2013 19:58
11 25 13N 75 57 92 W
The day started early with rising wind and sea.Thanks be that I resisted any idea of continueing with the faulty No1 and changed to the much smaller No2 jib.The wind was from astern and increasedto39knt at its peak this morning.Seas were around 6mand breaking.Naturely visability was good and it was sunny.Boat sailed impecably downwind at about 7knt always presented thestern to the wave and wind.Maximum speed was 10.9knt.
None of the crew had seen conditions like this before,myself in that I associate them with cold and rain.
Things are settling now although it is difficult to write this.
chris