Friday 8th, 17.25.N 42.29W
Moonshine
Fri 8 Dec 2006 21:37
know precisely how far to go,(sat nav) but have room to disagree over how
far we have gone. If we had to go back, in a straight line, the distance
would be 1763 miles, but we didn't get here in a straight line, and now have
the North Equatorial Current pushing us directly to the Carribean at about 1
knot ( maybe less) so who knows! The log says1720, but adding that to the
distance to go falls short of the total distance. And in the scale of
things, who needs to know what it's taken to get to where we are.
We're not doing too badly. I didn't say before, but we had such a problem
with our sails just after the start, that we were reduced to having the
whole of the fleet pass us before we got it sorted. Every single boat! Since
then, we've worked at it, and every boat behind us is a boat we've
overtaken. About 140 of them! Only one has overtaken us. It took him 5 days
to gain 2 miles on us - after we passed him first. He is 48 feet long mind!
We are trying to get that back today!
What we should be doing is rushing around on deck, trimming sails, shouting
instructions, living sparsely on ships biscuits, and generaly having a
stressfull time of it. In fact, it's an absolute hoot.
The weather is beautiful. Hot and sunny, 20 knots of wind, lively sea.
There is nothing more we can do to make the boat go faster. All the sails
are out, and we're rushing downwind over a big, lively, but very soft sea.
There are only small breaking tops. They rarely affect us.
Not so at 1.30 p.m.your time today (10 a.m.ours). Suddenly the boat
broached. There was nothing unusual happening, so nobody was paying
attention, when with a huge rushing noise, the boat lurched sideways, was
caught in a wave, and laid flat in the water for a second. It then righted
itself. I was below, and watched the cabin completely reorganise itself, very fast, and in a
way I would not have chosen. Dave and Alun were in the cockpit, luckily
still in the cockpit when it righted, cockpit full of water, and both of
them soaked. The clothing from overnight was still in the cockpit.
Waterproof clothing floats briefly, as do expensive waterproof leather
boots, but for not quite as long as it takes the cockpit to self drain.
If that is today's big drama, then all is o.k.
Despite our best efforts, there were no fish caught!
Tonight (early) is a very dark night. We have been used to seeing nothing but the moon through the clouds, which has made the night bright, but tonight there are no clouds, and no moon yet. The result is one of those incredible starry nights that we never see at home. hopefully we will get the shooting stars before the moon appears.
Theres a thought to go on watch with.
Rod, Dave, Alun, and the mouse
SY Moonshine
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