6.13N 83.02E
JENNY
Alan Franklin/ Lynne Gane
Fri 9 Jan 2009 08:51
|
Hello Everybody
It may be doomy and gloomy at home but out here its
wall to wall rain with lashings of wind at times and none at
others.
We have now been on passage from the Similan
Islands for 6 days and have covered some 900nm averaging 150nm per day.Crossing
Oceans is all about keeping up your average speed in the old days all the yachts
had were their sails to drive the boats nowadays we have engines as well but a
limited amount of fuel so we balance sailing against motoring with and without
sails in fact its all a compromise unless the wind blows true and steady which
does not happen very often nor for very long.
Our trip was known as the Trades Winds Rally
because we follow the trade winds routes around the world during the times of
the year that they are blowing the way that we need to go at 15/20 knts 24hrs
per day,well the times that has happened on this voyage you can count on one
hand.
But last night was something special Thunder
Lightening 4/5 meter seas and 20knts of wind right behind us.With twin head
sails poled out either side we were flying up to 10knts down the waves it
was Rock and Roll time and only I and Alan were able to enjoy the
exhilaration as his watch was straight after mine,mind you twice Jenny got up to
see why we were rolling but it was just magic my watch time just
flew.
It is difficult to describe the feeling of having
the boat on the edge but under control sailing at its optimum with
the waves rushing rushing by and us surfing down the front of
them.
Unfortunately those times have been few and far
between probably due to global warming but then it effects a lot of things far
more important than our sailing.
We are now about 144nm from the tip of
Sirilanka and 170nm from our destination of Gaulle with a bit of luck and
pushing the boat we will make it in daylight tomorrow evening to enjoy our 1800
Gin and Tonic but we are going to have to push the boat to make it.
In phukett we had another crew member joined us as
Ellie deserted to crew on another boat.Mark is a keen surfer and likes the
sea,just as well as his first long voyage on a yacht has taken him 8 days in
total.But he is a quick learner and seems to like life on board particularly the
1800 (6pm) gin and tonic.
When we arrive in SiriLanka we are going on an
organised tour of the safe parts of the island staying in some old Planters
clubs (remember Ceylon Tea) where a jacket and tie are required,it might be nice
to turn the clocks back to colonial times for a few days.
Hope it warms up for you all soon
Sailing Yacht Jenny
|