Day 2: Making progress at last.

The Voyages of Richard and Amanda
Tue 25 May 2010 15:11
Hi All
 
POS: 50:00.33N 004:19.46W
 
Thought I would add a few notes to the Skippers log.  Managed my second night watch OK only problem was absolutely no wind, very tedious.  Still it gives me a change to place around with sails and electronics.  We drifted around Start Point most of my watch between various big resting cargo ships, not sure what was more scary the proximity of land or boats.  Heard some very strange noises which sounded like big fish playing around in the water close at hand but could not find them.  It definately wasn't dolphins and of course not whales but perhaps it was a couple of shy seals playing around to keep me company. Winds were so light I finally rolled genoa up and accepted the way of the currents.  Managed to give Richard 4 hours sleep and woke him at 1.45am with lovely hot choc and left him around 2am for my shut eye.  Just as I was drifting off I heard him pull out the genoa and heard the sweet sound of water running along the hull, we were on the move again - the wind had come in for him.  He deserved it though!
 
I will let Richard give you the official report on todays activities surfice to say it is amazing to be out of sight of land amongst the large rolling waves.  I am not a fan of the Western Approaches, the sea is always more disturbed and waves are steeper, Richard says we should be leaving them behind around midnight tomorrow night. The Ocean ride really is much smoother - the waves may be bigger but they are longer and not as steep, more like large rolling hills!  Well I will go now we have a hit another doldrum area - no wind - and are slowly edging our way south.  Back to the books!  Hope you are all well and loads and loads of love from me.
 
Amanda xxxxxxxx
 
The forecast has been variable 3/4 veering N then E 4/5 later for the last three days, finally just off Salcombe the Easterly wind started and actually blew at F4/5 till 1600 now it is back to a light 7knots. So having got the sea all stirred up the wind has died leaving us rocking around going nowhere. Still for a while we were actually going in the right direction at about 6.5knots with just the genoa up!!
 
We did talk for a bit about stopping at Falmouth to top up with diesel as we have done quite a lot of motoring, but we haven't used quite as much as I thought so we are on the way to Terceira.
 
Just to add one more thing for Amanda to worry about, the Navy were having live fire exercises in the area so we were disturbed by the sound of gunfire, and a few cannon rounds, then a warship disappeared off at high speed. It makes a change from dolphins!!!
 
All the best from Justine Gabrielle.
 
PS: Amanda has forgotten the most important bit - there are lots of birds out here!!  Gannets, fulmars, storm petrels and your average common or garden gull how beautiful they all look gliding just above the tips of the waves - (dropping birds**t all over our boat)