Blog 19th May 2010
Nightsong
Sat 19 Jun 2010 12:07
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Dear Blog
Midday position 42.23N 14.57W
A great day's run of 164 miles that's nearly 7
knots, all but 2 hours sailing only (ie no motor). When the wind gets above 14
knots apparent (it's been 13 to 19 knots at a 60 deg off the nose all
day) Nightsong really does go. And as long as I am pointing < 75 degrees
to the wind, she really sails herself with the wheels locked although with a bit
of a wobble on wind shifts when I am asleep. Hope to be at a waypoint due west
of Coruna and 115 miles from it by tomorrow afternoon.Then due east against a
Force 6 to be in Monday sometime.
 A lovely hot afternoon it was yesterday too - see
pic - the Atlantic was blue again. At 1615 hours I passed the half way point
(429 miles out and in) and celebrated with my usual ritual of changing the
courtesy ensigns. First time I have had a Spanish courtesy ensign up since Gran
Canaria in November (scores of others tho') - didn't have time to visit those
Spanish Virgins (ok ok ! - no seriously hands up all those who actually
know that the Spanish Virgins exist - British and US yes but Spanish Virgins?!)
Actually there are 2 of them left of the islands named by Columbus after St
Ursula and the 11000 virgins who, threatened by marauding Huns in 4th century
Cologne, sacrificed their lives rather than submit to a fate worse than
death!!
Despite the continued adjusting of the sails,
rudder angle etc needed to keep the boat sailing fast without an autopilot,
I have got into a routine similar to the other 3 long passages I have made in
this Atlantic adventure. OK I wake every hour but then I do usually anyway to
have a pee!! Breakfast is oats and banana, lunch, bread with meat/cheese and
salad, and evening meal freshly made from the usual recipes -
chorizo/cabbage stew a la Boas, Spag bog/ chili con carne, chicken curry and
jerky octopus (sadly the jerk is finally running out just as memories of the
Caribbean fade). Octopus is a great discovery - it freezes well and therefore
keeps and tastes like fresh. Have a shower everyday and do the blog in the
morning - aftenoon try to nap - in between steering of course. Only one large
glass of wine per day - ok 2 - but much less than normal.
No marine life which disappointing - same as the
BVI Bermuda voyage but very unlike the Bermuda - Horta leg. No dolphins, night
attacks by storm petrels, weird Portuguese men'o'war or loads of
Cory's shearwaters 000's miles from land. Strange!
Still worried about boat problems but that is
normal with Nightsong!! Less than 300 miles to go!
AJB 19th June
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