Back again

Rowtec Support vessel "Desiderata"
Carl Theakston Mark Terry
Mon 8 Jun 2009 14:04
Well a testing few days have passed with all sorts of weather thrown at us. Due to our current position and route we have been forced to take (following the rowing boats) we are now positioned in the middle of the Indian Ocean high pressure system and therefore encountering variable winds and frequent squalls with showers so heavy they flatten the sea completely. Our weather routing information constantly shows low pressure systems to the south of us with strong winds and high wave heights but they are unable to get above 30 degrees south due to the high pressure system we are sitting in. We hope to put more northing in our course soon and benefit from the trade winds with their constant 15-20 kts of breeze from the south east and west flowing current.  Recently we have supplied the Flying Ferkins team with a replacement tracking beacon and provided the lads on Southern Cross with a good morale boosting visit, both teams looked in good spirits and had a healthy glow for their now fifty day plus adventure. We have now been dispatched to a boat roughly 140 miles to our northeast and therefore new the wind would be blowing from about 60 degrees as the law of sod dictates, for any direction we need to sail in is invariably dead upwind or dead downwind. so are currently making the best course possible. Desiderata is looking fantastic as she has had a spring clean below decks and constant squalls have taken the encrusted salt and dull pallour of a long journey from her topsides and deck. Mark and Vincent have busied themselves with sail repairs and rig tuning and Brenners has done a fantastic job on the Bumpkin. She will need a good scrub below the waterline at the next opportunity and some more fine adjustments to her rig layout but is proving herself to be a pleasure to sail in almost any conditions. Mauritius is still a distant 1800 miles and our thoughts cannot help but wonder what awaits us there (beer hopefully) but for now we are content to keep a watchful eye on our charges and make the most of a very agreeable situation.
 
Forza !

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image