Blog 3rd December
Nightsong
Thu 3 Dec 2009 17:59
|
Dear blog
Sorry a bit later than usual for my daily blog but
I've been really busy hand steering (yes we are giving the autopilot a rest)
with the large 165sqm 1800 sq ft gennaker up which we've had since 0930 hrs this
morning. Very hard work 'cos this boat is a bugger to handle with her small
rudders and lack of directional stability - but fun! Only lost it in a
semi-broach twice and we recovered without furling the sail. This has been the
first day that we've had since we left Las Palmas 11 days ago when the wind has
blown at <15 knots making the flying of the gennaker feasible. Anyway picture
through the salt splashed window of the saloon captures some of the fun - trade
winds, scudding clouds, 30C air temperature and 27C water temp. Can't wait
to dive in but it's a bit difficult doing this mid Atlantic at 7.5 kts!!
 The other news of the day is that we have < 1000
miles to go. Should be in St Lucia Thursday 10th December - if before 6pm that's
<18 days (BWI time being 5 hrs behind GMT). My original target was 17.5 days
ie 6am on the 10th -and we might just do that. OK the winds have been great but
then that is what this is all about! Theoretically even we might just arrive
Wednesday night 9th Dec if our VMG and tacking work out but it would be more fun
to arrive in daylight
Duogen and watermaker still working fantastically
well - so there's plenty of showers and we only have to run the engine 2 hrs pd.
The Duogen actually keeps the boat running in terms of fridge, autopilot and
instruments, producing about 8amps at 7knots ie 200AH pd - that 40% of our
battery capacity. But the electric loos, lighting at night, shower and fresh
water pumps etc take their toll of the batteries by 4,30pm when we turn on the
engine. Fresh food about to run out but we masses of other stuff - and
fruit!
AJB 03/12/09
|