Little Pea's Arc14 Blogoramma - 24hrs in
Littlepea
Tue 25 Nov 2014 16:22
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26:34.9N 017:43.8W
Daily Stats:
Top boat speed - 12.8kts (Ben at the
helm)
Biggest gust - 40.2kts
Dolphins - 3
Rainfall - nil
Chunder - enough to fill a child's
bucket
Hello and welcome to Little Pea's first blog from
somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean,
Just over 24hrs ago we crossed the startline in Las
Palmas, and what a day it's been. The combined events and mix of emotions
over the past 24 hours could fill the entire blog, not just this one
entry! After we last spoke to you Little Pea and her crew stormed down the East
Coast of Gran Canaria and through the acceleration zone where we saw wind speeds
consistently in the mid to high 30s (knots). Whilst bombing down this inside
track, Little Pea was in her element taking on much larger vessels. We're
one of the 10 smallest yachts competing this year, which in theory means we
should be one of the 10 slowest too.
However, as we surfed tall waves around the
bottom of the island, we went from having a lot of wind to nearly nothing - we
were stuck. We still had waves, but no wind to help us. After floundering for a
while - and noticing the breeze filling in just south of us - we managed to pick
our way out of the hole into better winds and we were back on the horse, racing
towards St Lucia.
The following hours presented us with yet more
unstable breeze, but we were able to hobble out of it each time by putting up
various combinations of sails (many various combinations).
As the sun started to set, we performed a rig check
to make sure everything was in order. But, everything was not in order...
Presumably during a sail change, one of the blocks (a small spinning wheel that
ropes go through) at the base of the mast had shattered. As the light faded we
rushed around trying to replace the block before it was too dark. As we were
doing this, we were greeted by 3 dolphins jumping out of the waves around the
boat wich marginally improved Jags mood who was already moaning about the cost
of replacement. It doesn't matter how many times you've previously seen
dolphins, their arrival is always special.
With the block replaced and night truly set, we
settled into our watch system knowing that we had some major ground to make up
after our slow transition through the wind holes. However, with the Canary Isles
to the north of us, the land was still having an effect of creating an unstable
breeze. The wind speed was going up and down like a cellists elbow and the
direction it came from danced around the compass rose. However, one thing was
consistent - the waves. They have been relentless, always pounding us from the
same direction regardless of how fickle or strong the breeze is. Our night was
as uncomfortable as it was frustrating, and one by the navigation lights of
boats around us disappeared over the horizon in every direction.
The sun rose over a clouded sky, marking the start
of our second day at sea. With this, came (finally) a more stable breeze, in a
direction that allows us to sail directly to our chosen waypoint in the
Atlantic. Breakfast was served, Tuna pasta bake - the same bake none of us
managed to eat the previous night due to the lumpy sea conditions. We are now
cruising along nicely and lunch (yet more Tuna pasta bake - yum) is in the oven.
Although we should mention that it has already
been splilled on the galley floor, scooped back up and
re-heated...!!!
It's been eventful - first +30
knot winds
first
double didget boat speeds
first
sea sickness induced vomiting
first breakages and repairs
first
dinner spilled on floor
first
event filled 24 hrs of Little Pea's next big adventure
Jags, Minky, Ben and
Mike
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