4th Dec - Day 9 - 10:30hrs UTC
Louis is cooking scrambled eggs, winds are back, we are
honking and all is good in the world! Our averages yesterday will not have been
great, we headed south to avoid some light winds but got caught anyway.
Hopefully we will make up for it now – I predict (always dangerous!) that
our next 24hrs will be our fastest to date so long as we don’t break
anything. We are now 1466nm’s from St. Lucia and will pass halfway
sometime around 21:00hrs (ship’s time) tonight. Nearest land point on a
bearing of 121 Magnetic, is Dakar
1143mn’s to our East.
The highlight of yesterday was the discovery of a broken
fitting on the exit pipe for the bilge pump. The result was any water we
thought we were pumping out was actually just being re-allocated around the
hull. One of the two bilge pumps has been disabled and a temporary fix made
which will work fine until we get to St. Lucia. Problem occurred as a
result of poor storage of plastic water bottles, the weight of which broke the
joint fitting.
The only other damage to report is two broken cruising chute
blocks.
For dinner last night for the first time we hit the tinned
ham. With a homemade mustard and honey roux, roast potatoes, peas and corn.
Delicious! We have eaten so well this trip so far, I suspect we have all put
weight on. This of course might all change with chef (to date) stepping aside
tonight for the first time.
ARC Control Update…………
REPORT OF ABANDONED VESSEL
Yacht 113 Spirit has reported an
abandoned vessel found afloat
17.45 UTC was at position 20°08,168
43°44,405 W. Wind in position was 9 knots from 200°.
The boat is open, with a white hull
approx 10-12 meters long
MRCC Falmouth, MADRID and NORFOLK have been
informed.
The vessel smells strongly of fuel
and may well be leaking fuel.
All yachts are warned to keep a good
look out at all times to avoid a collision.
Any further sightings should
be advised to MRCC and copied to ARC Control.
UPDATE ON BARBARYDUCK
136 EH01 has reported a sighting of
the abandoned yacht BARBARY DUCK at in position 18.47N 35.38W at 1850 UTC on
3/12.
The yacht is drifting, with no crew
on board and is not showing lights.
MRCC have been informed.
RIG DAMAGE - EMERALD - FOR
INFORMATION
211 EMERALD has reported a broken
shroud. Temporary repairs have been made and yacht continues onto St.Lucia.
Position at 031207 1300Z was:19.35N 32.10W
Yacht 'Gull'
Blog: www.blog.mailasail.com/gull
Email: gull {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com
Satfone: 0088 1631 624637
