DAY 5 - WHERE ARE THE TRADE WINDS? (N19 45 W22 53)
Mariposa Blog
Robert Newman
Sat 27 Nov 2010 07:56
|
With Willy and Frosty now having the sat
comms back up and running, we are all in high spirits..... or perhaps that's the
rum?
Whatever the reason, we are now
making reasonable progress south / west-ish (this afternoon / evening
with a little help from the iron sail as the morning winds died away almost a
quickly as they had come up) and despite the fact that the wind keeps
changing direction and strength, we are still on a heading for the most north
western island on CVI. There are still no reports of the trade winds and judging
from a number of sightings and radio chatter, there are a number of other ARC
yachts also heading the same way. ETA CVI late Sat / early Sun morning and if
the trades aren't blowing, our plan is to take on more fuel and head out west
for St. Lucia (c2200nm) ASAP.
The days seem to go very quickly, as between watch
shifts the daily routines of washing (obsessively/ compulsively Spiller)
ourselves, our clothes, the boat, the plates, saucepans, cutlery etc
and continually trimming / re-setting the sails as the wind direction
changes, together with having to make general running repairs to the boat
and off course occasional eating and drinking, seem to take up all the
time, especially when the swell increases and the boat is
rolling.
However, we have had a good day, despite the fact
that Frosty managed to knock over a cup of coffee this morning all over the
map table and yes, in true Carry on Sailing style, there was the only copy
of the Atlantic Map laid out on the table and yes, the Mariposa Log Book
was open underneath it!!!! After much cursing and mopping up
(and much to Spiller's horror, the using up of vital supplies of kitchen towel),
the map was saved but the Log Book is struggling and the whole comms area now
smells like a Starbucks (which is actually a pleasant alternative to
everywhere else on board!!!). On that note we were planning on a team
swim this afternoon! Frosty, is in fact, managing to spill a drink or food
(over the table or on himself) at every meal time and may yet manage to
take over Spiller's nickname!) We are thinking of getting him a Pelican bib in
CVI, to save further mishaps! He is blaming it on lack of sleep,
but, we think it is just a cry for attention!
Lunch was Skipper's turn and he did not let us down,
producing a very fine pasta salad (with yet more Chorizo) which we had
with a chilled beer or two. Soon after we had our first Whale
encounter; we think this was a Pygmy Sperm Whale, which was on the
surface on our bow, so we slowed up and videoed for a few minutes
before he/she plunged into the depths; truly awesome creature. The Skipper panicked somewhat when he realized that we still
had our fishing lines out and the prospect of catching a Whale sent him
into flying for the steering wheel to bear away. Thinking about it,
in the absence of any trade winds it might not be such a bad thing to
hook a whale, as long as it was going west towards St.
Lucia!
Later in the afternoon we did manage to hook a
reasonable sized Dorado (3ft or so long..."honest gov'nor") and this was duly
landed, dispatched and filleted, which left the Skipper and the transom covered
in blood and guts (and looking like Sweeny Todd), but he loves it (Bear Grylls
would be no match?!!!)! More sinister though was a large, dark silver shape
10ft or so below the surface as we were landing the thrashing fish on the
transom?! Frosty thought that this might be a plastic bag, but, when we looked
again the silver object had gone. Needless to say, the team swim was
postponed!!
Supper was an excellent chicken curry (again prepared by
the Skipper), who had swapped evening cooking for washing up with
Spiller.....there's a shock! Dinner was accompanied by a fruity little white
wine (there's another shock?!).
More soon....over and out
|