A good soaking! 45:18.1N 15:29.9W Miles to go 637

Ellatrout3
Tue 12 Aug 2014 17:35
The weather has changed completely over the last 24 hours. The wind  has swung round through 180 from the SE to the NW. We went to bed last night unable to sail the course we wanted, tacking to and fro but having to settle for a straight Easterly direction. However when I got up for the 1am check, lovely Ella Trout had turned herself around and was sailing serenely on a perfect course for Pwllheli:) This did not last all night however as by 6.30 dad was up getting her back on course again.
 
Throughout this morning the wind has got up and up, the sea got bigger and bigger and the crew got wetter and wetter! We decided we would need to change the jib to a smaller one as the wind was gusting 20knots plus. This agreed, Dad and I changed into water proof trousers but just kept T-shirts on top under our life jackets and harnesses. It was a lovely sunny day so who needs jackets? Then it was decided we would rig the Gopro to the boom so we could film some proper sailing action! This took time to sort out, rearranging fittings, moving parts from Dad's Gopro to Patch's, attaching bits of safety string etc. By the time all was ready the wind had upped it's game,and  though still deceptively sunny with pretty sparkly waves everything was decidedly bigger!
 
Dad and I crawled to the front of the boat, not easy as she was seriously riding these waves, plunging down troughs and rising over the mountains, occasionally slamming into one for good measure. And it had to happen a huge one came right over the front absolutely deluging us, and as we had no jackets ran down the inside of everthing, soaking my waterproof trousers from the inside out! We manfully struggled on to bring the jib down, not easy as it was blowing a hooley when who should come to join us but the dolphins! As Patch has been desperate to see them, obviously not satisfied with 2 whale sightings, we had to call him up front for a good look. Besides he needed to share the soaked feeling! And he did! The dolphins didn't stay that long but were still fab, they really look as if they enjoy life!
 
On more domestic matters, my hair is awful!! Dad keeps telling me it will start to self-clean and look glossy and shiny! At the moment it looks more like a helmet, not a single hair moves if I shake my head!
 
All for now from the good ship Ella Trout 3 
 
Love Patch, Sarah, Dad,/Poppa/Dad
xxxx