Bayonne to Cascais
Itchycoo
Wed 8 Aug 2018 10:42
Progress yesterday and last night was good (current position 40:25.5N 009:06.6W) and we are on schedule for a morning arrival in Cascais which is just outside of Lisbon. Sailing has been good with winds from the starboard quarter throughout.
These winds and the sunshine have enabled Roger to play with two of his new toys. Firstly, Itchycoo Park now has a bimini to protect those of sensitive skin from the sun and secondly Roger has been able to play with his pole (no smutty sex thoughts here please - it has nothing to do with either a solo sex act nor a lady from Warsaw). We are referring of course to the new spinnaker pole currently attached to the port side and holding the genoa to maximum effect. I'm told a race crew can install a spinnaker in seconds. We took slightly longer - I can't say how long as I fell asleep mid-process.
Roger the Captain (again, please, no smutty sex thoughts) has installed a new regime for this second leg of the trip. Daily tasks have been listed and assigned a letter representing the crew member who is to perform these tasks. A draw was made to assign letters to individuals. Kevin missed the draw as he was napping downstairs so imagine his joy when he awoke to find he was to spend the day cleaning the heads (toilets) and with his head in the bilges.
We have another mystery on our hands. Digital Dave is showing us on the chart plotter as sailing to our destination sideways with the bows of the boat at right angles to the direction of travel. There are two possible explanations. Either he is missing his analogue companion and is protesting his loneliness or we are the innocent victims of a devious sabotage plot from our departed friend. Enquiries will be conducted in the Marquess of Anglesey on our return.
The new watch rota is again the source of much confusion amplified by the seemingly simple, yet apparently challenging, task of telling the time. Ships clocks were on BST for leg 1 but have moved to Spanish time for leg 2. The more electronically adept amongst us use I-phones to make their alarm calls prior to their watch. I-phones, as I'm sure you know, are aware of where they are and automatically switch to Portugese time (one hour later - just like BST) after we sailed past the Spain/Portugal border. Result - alarm call doesn't happen and crew member late on watch. Bob's preference is to avoid I-phones and just be kicked out of bed by the crew member coming off watch - much more reliable.
Can we record please our thanks to those who have commented on our blog. Its great to know that at least 4 people are reading it and enjoying it and that we each have at least one person who cares about us.
Finally, as we sit enjoying stunning views of the Portugese Atlantic coast, can we have a group chorus of 'Its all too beautiful". Just sing it out loud - wherever you are.
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