Monday, 11th January, 2016

Luna Quest
W. Eric Faber
Mon 11 Jan 2016 10:43
Noon Position: 24.51S 06.45E

Daily run: 175 logged miles

In Darwin, Australia, we had at some inflated expense two new tow ropes made for the water-towed generator by Scott, the local rigger. They were not as long as the 30-metre one supplied by the manufacturer. The rigger said that the ropes were the same quality as the one we had. Yesterday, however, having deployed one of them before nightfall, we found that the quality was anything but the same. It would not have lasted the night, so in semi-darkness, we slowed the boat down by taking in sail before setting about hauling in the inferior new tow rope so that we would not lose the spinner at the end in case the new one broke. We had been clearly duped by Scott, but fury was no cure although a few words were sent to him via the Poseidon post. Luckily, the seas were not as heavy as earlier in the day and we reckoned that the spinner was unlikely, therefore, to jump out of the water on the old rope.

It is always a great joy to see the sun rise in the morning, not just because it heralds a cheery welcome to the day, but also because the solar panels can recharge the batteries. Yesterday morning started grey and overcast with a forecast of squalls and possibly high winds, but later in the morning the skies cleared completely with the wind strengthening to F6. Again this morning, the sky is overcast, but the wind is down to F4, a gentle breeze that just fills the sails without them banging about in the swell. Only the genoa, occasionally, fails to keep filled, so that it flaps with the roll of the boat.

Eric