Apologies for Absence
Juno
Wed 10 Dec 2014 12:07
| 15:23.88N 053:08.6W Day Seventeen at Sea - 10/12/14 At long last we experienced some good winds in the night. By the masterful, if somewhat brave, strategy of squall hunting, we picked up a number of good blows and achieved 91nm of progress in the twelve hours to 09.30 this morning. (Remember we still keep UK time on board.) This helped alleviate some concerns amongst those hopeful of a landfall soon, that it might be before our return flights take off. We counted 10 squalls between us - Homan had the wettest - which is to say his shorts were the dampest in the morning. We tracked the squalls with radar and could predict their arrival at our position reasonably accurately. Thankfully, there is also a pretty big gibbous waning moon to aid dark cloud tracking. One needs nerves for this game. Shrimpy knows the least and is, thus, fearless. 450nm to run and the deeper recesses of the magazine rack are being plumbed. Country Life has made an appearance along with Yachting Monthly and Yachting World. The latter are packed with tips on how to cross oceans. How avidly we will read those when back in the wintry UK. The New Statesman and most recent editions of The Economist have not yet been signed out. Viz has been popular. One magazine in particular, a gift from one of Shrimpy's top-notch, top-shelf reading Northington friends, has been very popular with the fo'csle. Schnoogle, he of the Library, requires it to be back on the shelf before lights out. A few more boats are appearing on the AIS tracker. We are currently chasing Tanoa and Bliss, German and Danish flagged vessels respectively. We should catch them before nightfall because We Are Big and They Are Small - sailing ability is not a factor. Our engine use in post-squall lulls helps also. We are all being funnelled down towards the Gap de Martinique through which we pass to get to Rodney Bay, St Lucia. That is Friday night's pleasure. Dolphins, we believe of the Atlantic Spotted variety, re-appeared this morning. They are much bigger than the normal type and are not given to making displays. They worked the area in front of our bows for flying fish for 30 mins then buggered off - no doubt to visit the Danes. It may be that Man is more of a threat to them in the vicinity of the islands. Our guide book has them as "Appreciated Eating" - the glossary describes this as "highly prized and regularly consumed". We have rib-eye steaks for lunch. Two other matters might warrant a mention. Firstly Michael Holland, QC celebrates his birthday today. His Dad Peter was responsible for introducing us to yachts and all their glory. Peter was 80 a week or so ago in Lanzarote. Way-to-go Peter. Happy Birthday Hollie - give Skip's love to the Missus. Secondly; today marks the anniversary of the day in 2009 when a previous ARC crew made a landfall in St Lucia. It is our wont to celebrate this in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England (think The Duke, The Anchor, Pier View etc). Sorry Dickie - we all send our Apologies for Absence. Have one for us Sir. The first round will be in Shrimpy next year. Here, we all remain pledged up. Skip used some alcohol-based Listerine this morning but the Committee says that is not a breach of convention. His smile is all the brighter and some of us will now sit his side of the cockpit table at lunch. The Crew thanks their shore support for all the help in re-booking flights. Thank you Darlings. Hatz - thanks for re-sorting all the Blog dates. Wish you were here etc. The Doc (MA, Dip Hed, Oxon & Off etc, etc) tried to send Squids an email last night which the mad gander system vetoed. We all say "Hi Squids". So far clouds all day - still a steamy 31C.
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