Nearly There
Halcyon
Rob Withers
Thu 8 Dec 2011 21:13
Light winds prevail.
Everywhere is virtually still and the water has a glassy sheen.
We are currently in the "Engine Running " period between attempt
numbers 173 and 174 to see if we have enough wind to make reasonable
progress.
The routine is quite straightforward.
The wind creeps above 5 knots
Rob Ums and Ahs for a bit and then says we had better "give it a go"
The large jib is raised and the main set to a suitably optimistic
setting.
The wind drops to about 4 knots, the boat speed perhaps having got to
4.5 knots before falling back to 2.5.
We wait for a while in eager anticipation of a slight gust: and
enjoying the quiet of a very slow moving boat with no engine running.
The wind finally gives up and we restart the engine, lower the jib and
fetch the main back in ready to do the whole thing again in a few
minutes.
It is all a plot really so that Rob wins the bet as to when we arrive.
James, Sarah and I (Steve) are out of it unless we can raise the boat
speed to that normally enjoyed by cars on motorways, Alistair is in
pole position unless we are delayed by a number of unsuccessful
attempts to actually sail, in which case Rob is favourite.
We have been plotting the last few hundred miles in relation to a
fictional trip from London to Carlisle. (That being the furthest home
of any of us). In variation 2 we went by way of Scotch Corner, stopped
at the lay-by at Scotch Corner and are currently just coming along the
twisty bit down from the top headed for the Kirby Thore by-pass where
the SatNav loses its way.
Supper tonight is the second helping of the fish, Baked and very
appetising looking.
As I write sailing has entered iteration number 174.
For those interested, the secret of catching Dorado is to use a pink
lure. Honestly..there is no doubt. WE had 8 unsuccessful attempts with
other lures but the pink squid given to us by the Finns on our
cultural exchange trip was successful within 1 hour. Conclusive proof.
Besides all that, we are all really looking forward to seeing (and
walking on) the shore, and rejoining loved ones.
In case the is the last blog from mid-voyage, Thank You to all who have
followed our progress and sent messages back.
Love to all
Steve