The Countdown

Escapada
Andreas Haas
Tue 8 Dec 2009 21:27
14.22.39N    057.25.625W
 
 
With only 200 miles left to go to St. Lucia, the countdown is on!  Based on our current average speed of 6 knots, we expect to arrive in Rodney Bay on Thursday,
10 December in the early hours of the morning.
 
As we continue our push through the Atlantic, today saw numerous interesting and challenging situations. In an attempt to arrive as early as possible, we tried
to gain more speed and improve our sailing wind angle by once again raising the Parasailor.  The first attempt resulted in the sock twisting around the forestay and
flapping uncontrollably  in the wind, to such an extent that we needed to take it down immediately. Once we untangled the mess, we tried again with the sail readied
on the port bow. This time it opened nicely and we were pleased by making good speed of 8.5 knots. Only a few minutes later, a strong gust of wind sent us on a
severe heel with the Parasailor already  touching the water. We immediately released all sheets and recovered from the heel, pulling a small portion of the wet sail
out of the water. As we adjusted course, the Parasailor stabilized and we thought the trouble was behind us, sitting down to a well deserved cold drink. Our peace
was short lived as within moments, the downhaul shackle snapped open (just as it had several days ago) and the sail began violently  flapping in the 20 knot wind.
As the adrenalin shot through all of us, the Captain immediately sent Moses and Neil on to the foredeck to swiftly pull down the sock and secure the Parasailor on
deck.  This time, we decided to tie the downhaul directly onto the clew without the shackle to avoid this problem. Once again the sail went up, opened nicely and
ESCAPADA finally regained course and the speed.
 
 
                                                                
 
                                   THE DAY STARTED WITH A BEAUTIFUL MORNING SUNRISE                                        CAPTAIN FLAGPOLE  IN COMMAND
 
 
After a late lunch of sandwiches and juice, we settled back to a little relaxation. The autopilot was helming, the sun shining, crew were reading and napping.
Suddenly, the autopilot went out! The Captain immediately took control of the helm and the rest of us quickly brought down the Parasailor. After investigating the
problem, it turned out that we had a leak of fluid out of the autopilot main cylinder, despite a full check-up and service back in the Canaries. Oil was everywhere in
the starboard stern locker. With no way to replace the fluid on board, this means the autopilot is out of operation and we will have to steer by hand for the rest of the
way to Saint Lucia. Since this means more work load for the crew, the Captain decided to adjust the watch schedule. Now, it's 2 people on watch for 6 hours, then
6 hours off. Watch leaders are Manuel (assisted by Bobbie) and the Captain (together with Neil). We have certainly been lucky (and are very grateful, in deed!) that
this problem  did not occur much earlier somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, and with such a relatively short distance left to Saint Lucia, it should not be a major
problem.
 
With all of these events, the day has gone by rather quickly. The team is now getting ready for the last 2 days and nights at sea. The count-down to the finish-line has
started...