21:54.000N
22:11.000W
Part of the ARC tradition is that as you enter
Rodney Bay you must have the fish tails from your Atlantic catch hung off
the back of the boat. Currently GE is not doing very well on this front. Despite
much effort and close detail to the kit, the only possible bite we have had took
the lure and most of the line. Those that are a little too old and cynical for
our own good proposed the thought that the knot came undone, Martyn, of course,
thinks otherwise. To protect the reputation of GE, Pascal is setting himself up
for a concerted effort this evening - Martyn is looking on with
doubt!
Last night was a great sail with GE reaching
10.5 kts. Gradually as the day has gone the wind has dropped and so has our
boat speed (wind is likely to be <10kts for the next 24 to 36 hours).
Steering becomes more difficult as the wind drops and every wave spills the wind
out of the sails and they flog about. The routine of ocean sailing is starting
to set in. The boat at times looks like a washing line and the food is generally
improving. Since the sails have been changed the course is more West, about
230/250 degrees and our course on the chart plotter is looking like a smooth
curve towards St Lucia. In fact it is more South than many boats but another old
sea dog, Dave Meacock, who is a bit of a legend in his own time gave our
David some good advice, 'head south and get rid of that mainsail' - both of
which we have done.
Dave Meacock has done the ARC
several/many times and was the examiner of our David (the gaffer) and also mine
when I started sailing - small world.
As you might have guessed by now Pascal is a
competitive chap.
Within 30 minutes he had caught a Dorado and
demonstrated that while skill and preparation is important, French charm wins
the day. Martyn however demonstrated that he was not beaten by donning a 'sweet'
pair of rubber gloves and scoring a hit with the washing up.
Sadly though in the excitement, Ian threw the
tail over the side so GE still needs to demonstrate 'first blood'.
Hope you are all well. All is well on GE and as
usual love and best wishes to all family and friends. Ian wanted to say a
special hi to Emma in Bristol and Rosie out in Australia - please tell him not
to throw the tail over the side next
time!
