Ocean ups and downs
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Sun 5 Dec 2010 13:54
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Our position is 13:00..29N 26:10.67W
24 hour Run Log trip
(through the water)
89.5Nm
24 hour Run
GPS
(overground)
92.0Nm
Midday wind and weather Force 2 clear blue sky , hot sun Sea state: Slight swell very small waves. Temperature: 34.0C As you can see from the description above, the
subject refers to the crews optimism rather than the sea state. It has to
be said that the continuing light winds are now trying our patience. We get
promises of winds that will speed our progress and then a day later a forecast
that contradicts them. We experience an hour of rising winds and our speeds
start to look respectable and we think "here we go at last" only to have them
dye away on the next watch to the paltry 7 or 8 knots that have become the
average.
Of course life is very easy aboard in these light
following winds, but you can have too much of a good thing.
We have come further south than our great circle
route, partly to optimise our speed through the water, and partly in the hope
that we will find the elusive trades down here. The gribs show we were right to
do so but the advantage is marginal.
We are achieving a slow 4.5 knots rather than very
slow to stop. Peter has justoptimistically reported from the deck that we
are now doing 5.5 and the wind is picking up. I am not getting excited, see
above.
Fishing is an ongoing activity but regrettably
catching is not. There is no shortage of suggestions as to how the various
weights, lures, hooks, swivels etc should be arranged on what length of line,
but so far the fish are outwitting the fishers.
I have nothing to add on the subject, but I
am thumbing the pages of Michael Greenwalds Cruising Chef Cookbook to
see what can be done to corn beef to turn it into a gourmet treat as it is my
turn to prepare dinner tonight.
Glen's steak and kidney pie with carrots, green
beans and mash with gravy was very well received yesterday evening.
The standard of food is consistently high for all 3
meals a day, including very competitive bread baking, and as a result few
snacks are being eaten, however slices of Rosemary's excellent ginger and fruit
cakes are hard to resist with afternoon tea. We have to get it in early though
so as not to spoil our appetites for dinner, which is taken before dark at
6:30pm.
As I said the light winds make for an easy
life.
Fingers crossed for some wind!
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