Fernando de Noronha to Antigua - Day 12 1900UTC
Vega
Hugh and Annie
Mon 17 Apr 2023 20:07
09:30.2N 50:50.3W COG 280T SOG 5.7kts Wind ESE F5 Boisterous best describes the conditions. Waves from the side and a swell coming from behind. Regularly they combine to roll the boat with a lurch sufficient to send anything loose flying. It looks like we have another day or so like this before the wind starts to ease. The wind is on the beam but for greatest speed and comfort we could do with it a little farther aft. The conditions mean there is a lot of spray coming over the boat and everything is wet and sticky with salt water. It being the tropics we have kept some of the windows open for ventilation but had not realised how much spray was coming through them until Annie found the saloon berth saturated and we had to change the bedding. There is a film of salt water on the woodwork. There will be much washing down to do when we get to Jolly Harbour! As I was writing a wave hit the side of the boat with an almighty bang and seawater drenched the rear cockpit……… I managed a win at backgammon today. With three counters remaining I needed a double from my last throw to prevent Annie from winning with her two remaining counters. Double four! That makes it 5:2 in Annie’s favour. Sadly checkers went the same way as yesterday and after being in a sure fire winning position one bad move and it was downhill to the inevitable humiliation. The Thai green curry was a great success. Augmented with sweetcorn there was plenty for a second sitting last night. We didn’t need to start on the large squash as there was still some butternut squash left in the ‘fridge. Now we need six or seven creative ways of working through our monster squash before Antigua. Maia with Dick and Laura on board are now at Jolly Harbour, Antigua. Laura is flying back to the US for a family visit but hoping to catch us at Jolly Harbour before we set off for the Azores. In the meantime we are under instruction to make sure that Dick is eating his five fruit and veg a day! Colin on Endorphin is also at Antigua. He has two friends on board; Mel who he met 9 years ago in Antigua and Glen who crewed on Colin’s racing boats in Scotland for many years. The three of them are sailing Endorphin back to Scotland and it looks like they will be taking the northern route to the Azores via Bermuda. This is an option for me also. We haven’t heard from EmilyLuna for a couple of days but know they are reporting into Des for a weather report each day so assume all is well and hope to hear from them soon. SY Vega |