Half Way!
Flyer of Lorne
Dave Sturrock
Thu 4 Dec 2008 10:03
|
14:46.20N 35:48.89W
Wed 03 December, Days Run 150NM
This was a day of Gennaker hoists with the
following sequence taken from our log:
04:00 NO. 1 Gennaker doused following wind increase
to 20 knots, genoa unfurled and still making 8knots of boatspeed.
11:30 No. 2 Gennaker hoisted following easing of SE
winds to F3-4
12:10 No2 Gennaker down, NO. 1 gennaker
hoisted as winds continued to ease, now SE F2-3.
23:45 No.1 Gennaker down following broaching in 20
knots of wind, genoa unfurled.
The foredeck crew of Buster and Chieffy are now
finely tuned and all these changes were made without any hitch. The response
from everyone onboard has been great as 2 of the above sail changes were during
nightwatches and we had a full muster on deck within 5 minutes each
time.
We managed the second best distance in our class in
this period, only losing out by 4NM to "Resolution 3" the Centurion 45. We did
have the satisfaction of going further than the 6 50' plus yachts in our class
which is a pretty good achievement which was probably down to dogged
determination to keep Flyer moving in light airs and lumpy seas, we were greatly
helped by flying "Big Brother" when less than 16knots of wind was
blowing.
We had a mid Atlantic celebration this afternoon as
we had travelled 1,588NM as of midday and had a further 1,550NM to run to St
Lucia. We had taken 10 days to complete the first half so it looks like much the
same for the second half given the ongoing lighter and more fitful winds than
usual. As you can see we all remain in good health and spirits with no-one going
for the ancient mariner look just yet!
We also managed a VHF chat with the Norwegian
yacht Hilde which is also sailing in our class. This was quite bizarre as I
called a passing yacht which we crossed ahead of and was onlky 1NM away, there
was no response from this vessel but Hilde which was around 15NM South and out
of sight did respond. Most of the conversation revolved around the Low Pressure
system ahead and how we were going to negotiate this without being becalmed. The
weather has been mainly overcast while we skirt just to the South of this system
and has a very warm muggy feel which probably will not change until we clear to
the West to gain fresher NE'ly winds
Dave Sturrock
Footnote:
Excellent joke attached which Charlie
sent.
Irish Maths Test
An Irishman applied for a job on a construction site, but the foreman wouldn't hire him until he passed a simple maths test. Here is your first question, the foreman said. "Without using numbers, represent the number 9." "Without numbers?" The Irishman says, "Dat is easy," and proceeded to draw three trees. "What's this?" the boss asked. "Ave you got no brain? Tree and tree and tree make nine," said the Irishman. "Fair enough," said the boss. "Here's your second question. Use the same rules, but this time the number is 99." The Irishman stared into space for a while, then picked up the picture that he has just drawn and made a smudge on each tree. "Ere you go." The boss scratched his head and said, "How on earth do you get that to represent 99?" "Each of da trees is dirty now. So, it's dirty tree, and dirty tree, and dirty tree. Dat is 99." The boss was getting worried that he's going to actually have to hire this Irishman, so he said, "All right, last question. Same rules again, but represent the number 100." The Irishman stared into space some more, then he picked up the picture again and made a little mark at the base of each tree and says, "Ere you go. One hundred." The boss looked at the attempt. "You must be nuts if you think that represents a hundred!" The Irishman leaned forward and pointed to the marks at the base of each tree and said, "A little dog came along and crapped by each tree. So now you got dirty tree and a turd, dirty tree and a turd, and dirty tree and a turd, which makes one hundred." "So, when do I start?" |
