Day 9
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17:02.5N 32:48.0W After 9 days of chasing all over the eastern Atlantic
looking for stable wind conditions we finally had to accept defeat last night
and switched on the iron sail to drive us through a windless zone that
threatened to becalm us for two days. None of us was happy with the decision but with our wives
and partners waiting for us in St Lucia, return air tickets booked and in
Adrian's case pressing work commitments in his new job, we felt that we had no
alternative. It would have been good to have sailed every mile across but alas
it was not to be. Yesterdays weather downloads were pretty depressing and
this morning's is even worse with a huge area of little or no wind stretching
150 miles north and south of us and ahead of us for the next 1,000 miles!!!!!!!!!!!! The fleet seems to be split in two with those boats that
went against the weather gurus advice and took the more direct northerly route
or were able to get sufficiently far enough west, both have been able to leave
this windless area behind them. The rest of us are stuck on the eastern side of
this weather system and will be able to do little to alter the outcome. This morning the winds have increased sufficiently for us
to hoist sail and at present we are making good progress under mainsail and
cruising chute at 6 to 7 knots from 8 to 10 knots of true windspeed. A tribute
to the designers skills in creating a very efficient hull shape and rig and
sail configurations. Even at this speed our ETA is another 10 to 11 days but if
we hit the predicted windless wall then who knows when we will arrive in St
Lucia!!!! We do not have enough fuel to motor the whole way and
also need to keep reserves for our arrival and for running the generator to
charge batteries. We have plenty of food and liquid on board and have not taken
to drinking each other's urine yet, although I have been drinking mine for days
(Blackadder fans will understand). Despite the setbacks, spirits are high, we are all fit
and well and developing excellent sun tans and using the time to read, listen
to music and fish. Adrian seems adept at catching Dorado but the bigger fish
keep eating his tackle (Can be very painful) and getting away. The morning patrol of the deck continues to discover
Kamikaze flying fish and it is important to throw them overboard quickly before
they discolour the teak decks.
With a very uncomfortable boat motion in the light winds
and swell we resorted to one of Tricia’s pre cooked frozen meals. Trish, the
Lasagne met with universal acclaim and Glen says a particular thanks for the
vegetable version. The rest of us carnivores at the traditional mince. No films again last night. Music of the day Van Morrison. You will have seen from yesterdays posting that we have
introduced a guest writer to the Blog. Yesterday it was Adrian’s turn and
today it is Chris’s. 10 days into our great adventure and our new temporary
home and lifestyle begins to be established. Whilst the big things have major
impact such as a lot of sea that surrounds us which makes the boat move up and
down which is highly inconvenient at certain times such as when you are cooking
or eating. At these times you need at least 4 pairs of hands as well as a large
amount of anti slip matting as well as food that does not slide easily into
your lap! The small things such as noises that make your normally private
occasions very public. The toilet or as on a boat called the heads is a
wonderful invention no chain pulling here but a pump that needs to be pumped
when all of your business has been completed. Our pump, no matter how much
cooking oil to stop it making a noise we have poured down it, squeaks and can
be heard all over the boat. I wonder if anyone is counting the squeaks we all
make and will there be a prize for the most or should it be least number of
squeaks? Another significant noise is the shower pump. You all will know that
water on a boat is very precious so the longer we can hear that pump the more
water is being used and less for everyone else. I am pleased to report that we
are all very clean and fresh smelling without the shower pump running for a
long time. You can see that being on a boat can begin to make those for granted
things really very special and you begin to appreciate things that you took for
granted. I need to share with “hot bedding” which we all have to do
as two cabins are out of use because of the need to store things and get at
them easily and quickly. This means as one person goes on watch the other person
comes of watch and gets into the bed that you so reluctantly got out of. We all
have our own sleeping bags and pillows but I can understand how a cat must feel
when he goes and lies on the bed which you just got off. It’s a very warm
feeling. A bit like going back to the womb. Only 10 days at sea and I am
rambling even more than usual. The voyage has lived up and even exceeded all of
my expectations. Until you are actually sailing across the Atlantic do you
realise just how big it is. Every moment the sea changes it is just like a
living picture. I just can’t stop looking at it. I am also chaperoning a
small yellow duck given to me by school and sending information about its life
back to the students. To finish off my letter from the Atlantic in saying what
a great team I am fortunate to be sailing with as well as in a fantastic boat.
Time for me to go back up on deck and look at more sea and think deep thoughts
whilst listening for those noises.
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