Big waves big knots
Ninaofsouthampton
Thu 29 Nov 2018 14:51
We have had an absolutely cracking day. Winds are at an almost perfect level and we have a very helpful knot of current to make us even faster. The waves are starting to build as well, as we move further from the African coast. This combination means that the majority of our time is either spent cruising along at 8/9 knots or surfing down waves at 45 degrees (we reached a top speed of 14.5 knots down one particularly helpful wave).
These speeds all sound very impressive I know, but as I do try to be as honest as possible with my extensive readership* I should probably explain (having had it explained to me five minutes ago) the terminology.
One knot is one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is just longer than a mile. So yeah, an average speed of around 8/9 miles an hour, with a top speed of 14.5. In terms of speed we are comparable to a Boris bike, a mobility scooter or an old car stuck in first gear. Impressive eh? At least we are travelling in comfort, if you call living at a thirty degree angle comfortable.
That said, given that we have enough food and water supplies to keep us going for about six months, 460 litres of diesel, 600 litres of water, a reading library that puts most universities to shame and four blokes who aren’t getting any thinner, maybe those speeds are impressive after all.
*I didn’t say I’m honest with myself.