Ready for the off
Merlin
Kevin & Victoria Rolling
Tue 21 Jun 2011 10:33
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37 44n : 25 39w
A busy but enjoyable week is nearly over and a
sense of excitement for the forthcoming race has taken over the
marina.
Our repairs are now complete:
A newly machined Goose-neck bolt to
replace the one that snapped
A new leisure battery that finally arrived
yesterday afternoon to replace one that died on the trip down
The faulty connection to the navigation
lights repaired - we can now be seen at night!
Wind instruments now working after I
discovered an electrical junction box full of rusty water at 7pm
yesterday. First job today was to get it all cleaned out and rusty bits
replaced. Deep joy when all instruments came back to life, how any of them
worked under such conditions is amazing.
At the race briefing yesterday we were reminded of
the two boats still on the their way south as there is now concern for
their safety as little movement has been detected from their transponders for
many days. Neither has issued a Mayday as yet and the coastguard will not
act until they do. If any of the returning yachts travel close to them we will
make visual contact and provide help if required.
An area of high pressure currently based over the
Azores is providing little or no wind for the next day or
two, however a cold front is just passing over the island providing a
lovely breeze. It may well have passed by the 14.00 BST start time to leave
us wallowing in almost no breeze - fingers crossed that it lasts ! We will sail
west around the island and then north around the high pressure zone for a day or
two until we pick up the stronger SW wind which should be provided by the low
pressure zone currently forming over Canada. This should provide fast surfing
conditions most of the way home for those brave enough to use
them......
Matt is due back on board soon after saying his
goodbyes', we can then get on with the final preparations.
K & M
Merlin
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