1500 nm to go!!

Elizabeth D of Gosforth
D R R/ C Abram
Sun 15 Jan 2012 18:32
22:54.80N 35:20.60W

Making up Miles…

208nm in the 24 hours to date. Wow! We are proud of Elizabeth D as she
‘trucks’ along to Antigua. Fingers crossed the wind holds!

Four days have passed since I last wrote and time is passing in an endless
daze of four hours on/four hours off. The halfway mark is nearing (2-3
days away) and the whole crew are much happier now the frustration of
gybing and trying to make the most of light air seems to have passed (at
least for now!)

The weather forecast is constantly changing and each day there is
speculating on what weather pattern we are going to get next. It does not
matter what technology you have at your disposal the clouds still tell the
accurate story!

A new downloaded grib file (weather information) is a constant source of
excitement every few days as we crowd around the computer. Amazing to see
how navigation has progressed over the past few years with easily
accessible and available weather information at our fingertips. If only
the information was accurate!!

The computer screen is currently covered in 16 small shreds of pink post
it notes with a downward arrow on them… Apparently a Tasmanian method of
allowing the user to calculate boats positions and distance accordingly.
Interesting albeit effective.

Life on board proceeds as normal. Anna is cooking up a storm refusing
offers of assistance – occasionally I am allowed to peel a potato or two!
We are working through the British (ahem Tasmanian) classics like Bangers
and Mash and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Jason seems to be mourning the fact that he thought he would lose weight
on this journey… sorry mate – clearly you haven’t eaten Anna’s food
before.

So all is well – bring on the breeze until Monday….where the long range
forecast does not look as good!

The plan is to motor through this light spot and hook into the next
system..cross fingers. On a good note we have used no fuel apart from the
generator so are well prepared for some motoring with nearly full tanks!

Update in 3 days or so. OUT!!!