Day 7 - Waiting for the dawn

Kirofbrixham
Sat 29 Nov 2008 06:57
0630 and engine churning away charging the batteries and making some water. Reasonably clear night but speed has dropped again to 5 kts after a good day's sunny run yesterday with a moderate followig sea. Yesterdays midday to midday run distance was much better but it did get a littl rolly.
 
It looks like we stayed further east than many (at least those on the radio web who are still caling in positions rather than just using the email), so we'll see how far apart we are at midday today when we are closer to the Cape Verdes. Today's job (if we have the wind!) is to try to get the wind steering gear working having reduced the bimini size, that will reduce our need to run the engine for battery charging.
 
That, of course will come after breakfast and setting the fishing gear up. Yes, we finally finished the chicken!!
 
One of the fleet is putting in to the Verdes with broken rigging - after a check in Las Palmas revealed a problem a local rigger was called in to work on it. The night before last he lost 2 lower stays in a force 4 to 5. No one hurt but there is a rigger in Las Palmas who won't be geting any recommendattions.
 
We are all amazed by where the time goes! the routine is ater 8 breakfast, change/tweek sails, clean up, coffee/tea then midday radio calls, sail/fruit and veg inspections, snoozes, start diner preparation, eat dinner, settle sails down for the night and into the evening watch - not much time for reading etc etc. Taking it in turn to chose the music to be played whilst dinner is being preped. Today we are going to change the eating routine to main meal early pm and then an evening snack so that evening daylight is freer for seting the sails up for the night.
 
Ater last nights 2 hour dinner prep marathon by Richard under heavy rolling the Captain has issued a decree that all future ,meals will be simpler! no one neds to worry about us losing too much weight out here!
 
Today is another fresh water shower day - whoopee!
 
All very well and cherfull - too cheerfull for some first thing in the mornng!