17:43.13 S 174:02.50
Farr Gone Blog
Stuart Cannon
Thu 4 Aug 2011 23:37
These seas are definitely the most unpleasant I've had on this trip, mainly because of my angle to them but I'm taking plenty of water over the bow. I needn't have bothered bucketing the decks, they have been well washed. The large amount of anchor chain and the heavy anchor are really making the bow become a submarine at times but so far the interior has stayed dry. Oh except for the mast boot, the seal between the mast and deck, has come open. Thank heavens for gaffer tape.
Two mistakes yesterday. It is Lautoka, I spelt it with an r and the soot is apparently due to the sugar refinery. Must keep the pedants happy. Grumbly lot they can be.
The decision to just have a headsail was very correct. The boat has covered 183 nm's with the headsail and has at times been heeling considerably, aided of course by the beam sea. Top speed hit during the night was 11.7 and the average has been 7.6 so there is no need to be a hoon and drive the boat harder. Now if I could just get rid of the anchor chain the boat would fly. Probably sensible to keep it though.
The rocking and rolling is quite tiring. You find muscles are being constantly used just to stay in one spot. It would be great to rest the legs but you can only do that in the bunk. The good news is the sun is out. It's been grey and overcast until an hour ago and things always look better in the sunshine. Had quite a bit of rain around Fiji but thats a thing of the past for now.