3rd Dec – Day 8 – 12:50 UTC
We have tacked south for the last 24 hrs. This move is based
on our most recent grib chart analysis which suggests minimal wind from the 4th
on our original course. Last night was interesting in that we had three yachts
around us – remarkable after 1000 miles! That said, we are anticipating a
‘coming together’ of the fleet in the coming days as the boats that
went south and north for the first week start to route up and down towards St.
Lucia.
The more domesticated of us on board have started washing
and drying our ‘smalls’ now, a sure sign of being a week at sea! We
cleaned out the fridge yesterday and threw out the remainder of our fresh meet.
Despite removing and washing every item of the fridge contents, the smell still
lingers. Flocks of flying fish have become a common occurrence and a particular
passion of Richard’s as he tries to capture a picture of them in flight –
as of a few minutes ago, he was reporting success but we shall wait till we see
proof!
Ships time is now UTC -2 and the routine on board is firmly
established. We have Italian Cake and Champers for our halfway point which we
estimate we will pass late tomorrow afternoon. It will be all downhill after
that.
Analysis of progress suggests we have moved up to 9th
in our class with Lilly, the boat in 8th place 69 miles ahead.
Unfortunately, positions 10 – 17 are all within another 69 miles of us so
we will be watching our backs! Of the eight Irish boats, on uncorrected time we
are in 4th with the rest a long way back. Ahead of us are
Dreamcatcher (Dublin), Sabina (Galway) and
Navillus (Tralee). Our handcap is better than
all of theirs so we shall see, a lot as always will depend on where the wind
comes from in the coming days. We continue to delay running in deference to our
damaged pole and are engineering (with the help of the wind) to continue to reach
with the wind on our beam most of the time. We spent a couple of hours beating
this morning on the back of an un-forecast southerly wind.
Fleet Update Received from ARC Control this morning……
181 - FARO
Not able to charge batteries. Will
therefore only report position 1 x per week, unless other yachts able to relay.
242 - CETUS
Have broken main boom. Continuing
under headsails.
179 - BASIA.
Broken battens and cars on mainsail.
Continuing under headsails.
24 - ICARUS
Broken boom. Continuing under
headsails.
40 - EQUINOX
Had previously reported broken boom.
Continuing under headsails.
219 - KAISO
Diverted to Sao Vicente, CapeVerdes. ETA first light
04/12.
Water leak thru keel bolts.
Currently under control using pumps.
Engine not working so cannot charge
batteries.
No assistance currently required.
Yachts Still in Canaries
254
Jigsaw of Gosport
73
Walross IV
49
Flying Teapot
Casualty from AAG BIG ONE will
arrive in Las Palmas
late tomorrow.
