Wind
Rowtec Support vessel "Desiderata"
Carl Theakston Mark Terry
Wed 22 Apr 2009 11:59
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It's now Wednesday 22nd 6.30pm local time and a
short nasty low has just arrived to interupt our dinner party, we are having 35
knots of wind with 15ft breaking seas and steak for dinner, what we have learned
in our first few days at sea in Australia is the forcasters can be a little
conservative with their predictions although we console and at the same time
concern ourselves knowing there is a rowing fleet out here having just as
bad a time. Desiderata is living up to her pedigree as a strong
seaworthy yacht and regardless of the conditions experienced we feel comfortable
and safe and confident of her abilities. Fatigue has become a factor for all
three of us to face as we have sailed through the night for the past three
nights and sleep has been intermitent and restless but with a few more days
sailing we will be in deeper water and with hopefully more favourable conditions
and expect to settle into better pattern of resting between watches. Monday
night was spent beating to windward for 15 hrs with the Ocean Rowing boat
Hoppipola in tow. Her skipper Mick Moran had decide to head back to Geraldton WA
as he was unable to clear the shoreline safely. Our thoughts are with him as the
decision he made was a diffcult one to take and the dissapointment he must feel
will be hard to bear although I doubt we have heard the last of a such a
dedicated and determined Rower.
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