Update from windless Namaste

Namaste
Paul Hales
Tue 2 Dec 2008 18:50

Hi All

We have been enduring a period of slack to non existent winds for the past 24/36 hours. We are managing to convert what we wind we do have into reasonable progress at times, but this progress is invariably halted by a drop in the wind.

Everyone on board is tired due to the slow rocking motion that is almost hypnotic. Its strange too, that bobbing in one spot for any length of time is in a way an unsettling experience. I guess party due to the thought of boats catching us or pulling away from us and party as it puts into perspective what a vast expanse of ocean we are in, and with no wind we could be here for quite sometime!

As I type, we seem to have come completely to a standstill. There is a dark cloud hovering to port - at least if we have a squall pass over I might get a shower!

Today has been the 1st day for 3-4 days that we have seen another vessel. A large cargo ship that passed 3 nm ahead of us bound for Norway - motoring along at 12 knots - how we would love for some wind to give us that sort of speed!

We are eagerly anticipating the position update from the ARC at 19.00 tonight so that we can see who else has been struck by this lack of wind. Hopefully we are not the only ones! By our reckoning, we are actually in a better position than most, but weather forecasts have been famously wrong in the past!

In our becalmed state, we have taken to reading, sleeping and listening to music.  I'm off outside to do my best impression of a vacuum cleaner...we have got to get wind from somewhere. I'll let you know how I get on.

Namaste

nihil nisi optimum