Blog 8th April
Nightsong
Thu 8 Apr 2010 15:12
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Dear Blog
Another eventful night!! This lady never gives
up being fickle!! And here is a picture of a constant one, Sarah on watch
at dawn today
 Anyway after 36 hours of beating into a strong
North easterly blowing at 24 knots at times (force 6), the wind suddenly went
aft about 10 degrees about midnight and we are stomping along at > 7 knots
much more comfortably in a fine reach having only 530 miles to go. It is still
blowing F 4/5 but from ENE not NE so we might do it Sunday night -
tho' we won't want to approach Bermuda in the dark. We still have 1 reef
in the main and the jib has delaminated yet!! Sadly we are now out of the
Tropics having crossed the 23 degree parallel 4 hours ago - and we are noticing
it. Last night I wore a jersey for the first time since the last few days
approaching St Lucia in the ARC 4 months ago. And the water temp is now less
than 25C having been 29C in the Caribbean. Brrrh!
2 more problems with the electrics in the night.
First the engine (now necessary to cherge the batteries with the Duogen still
down) appeared not to be charging the batteries - Tony cleaned up the terminals
and that sorted that. Then about 2300hrs the bowthruster started pulsing causing
a huge drain on the batteries and alarms everywhere. Northshore in their wisdom
not having fitted an isolator switch for the bowthruster Tony had to trace the
wire back and found the fuse disconnecting the BT once and for all. Suspect
water ingress again as yesterday was the cause of this. What a useful
bro-in-law I have!!
AJB
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