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'

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Email: gull {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com

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