Across the Pacific - Day 5
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Mon 29 Mar 2010 08:00
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05:35.417S
100:32.2256W
Monday 29th March Another drama today but Paul knew he was doing something he shouldn't have been doing so it didn't come as a shock. The new-ish whisker pole broke! There was too much pressure on it and after a while it just gave up and bent. Paul went forward to try and sort the mess out while Amy observed from the cockpit and all I could hear down stairs was laughter. While Paul was leaning over the edge to unclip the lines from the end of the whisker pole water kept gushing over the bow in one particular spot - over Paul! Amy was laughing so much she expected Paul to turn around and shout at her but instead he looked at her and burst out laughing too. Apparently it was very comical! Today has been a nice day. We've been 700 plus miles from land and we've had Blue Magic 7 miles behind us and just visible on the horizon, Camomile 6 miles to our port and just visible on the horizon and Bali Blue around 10 miles to our port, just slightly in front. It's very comforting to know there are other boats so close should anybody have any problems. On the day when we left the Galapagos we learnt that Moonshiner who had left 2 days earlier had put out a Pan Pan in the night because they had engine failure and their generator wouldn't work either so they had to turn around and head back to the Galapagos where I believe they still are. Scot Free were around 200 miles from land when they too had engine problems so they have also turned back to the Galapagos. Unfortunately there was nothing that anybody could do to help with either of them and as it is a 3,400 mile crossing they had no option but to turn back. Lorrigray who joined in Panama had steering problems when they set off from Las Perlas so had to turn back. They since made another two attempts to leave but had more problems causing them to turn back and they have now given up all hope of joining back up with the rally. It's not all fun and games this sailing around the world malarky! On a brighter note we've had a school of dolphins swimming with us today. They didn't jump out of the water too much but it was fascinating watching them darting about just under the surface of the water. They're so quick! Paul also spotted a whale heading in the other direction so unfortunately we didn't get to see too much of him. |