Blog Saturday 28th November
Nightsong
Sat 28 Nov 2009 10:55
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Dear Blog
Somewhat shakily since I've just come down from the
top of Nightsong's 22m (72ft) mast in mid Atlantic in a force 5/6! position
at 1000hrs 21N30W with 1812 miles to go to St Lucia.
We seem to be fated to have sail problems - last
night we were just taking in a nightime mainsail reef (girls please note) when
the jib came down (my fault I shouldn't have said it was the one sail that we
hadn't torn!). What had happened was that the swivel snap shackle that attaches
the jib to the top furler mechanism had broken. Luckily I had a spare! The only
way to get the sail up again was to go up the mast to get the furler down. So we
waited until 8am dawn this morning and then I went up in the bosun's chair.on
the gennaker halyard - also with my lifejacket on in case I fell in the drink
and with 2 strops that I put round the mast in turn to keep myself from swinging
with the heel of the boat outwards. Anyway job successfully accomplished -
we have lost 15 miles sailing with the main only overnight but now are
steaming along at 8.5kts in a NE5/6 trade wind.
Why many things keep breaking in a boat that is
only 2 years old I really don't know but I guess we have sailed her >8000
miles already and nearly 3000 miles this year. Must check all the rigging again
before we leave for home in April!
Anyway picture proves it - JEO (or arther his bald
palate) on the helm, Boas on the winch pulling me up and Tony R forward tending
the line to haul the furler down!
 AJB 28/11/09
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