38:08.0N 035:19.8W Midday (BST) Fix 30 May 2010 Locked On And Counting Down

Oboe D'Amore's Web Diary
Nigel Backwith
Sun 30 May 2010 13:39
Midday 30 May 2010 (BST/GMT+1) Fix for Oboe D’Amore – Transatlantic W to E
2010

View our progress on Google Earth at: http://blog.mailasail.com/oboe


GPS Position: 38:08.0N 035:19.8W

Sea Miles (previous 24 Hours): 128nMs

Sea Miles to date: 2,864nMs

Present Course Over Ground: 095°M

Present Boat Speed 5.5kts

Average Boat Speed (previous 24 hours): 5.3kts

Average Boat Speed to date: 6.2kts

Estimated GPS Position in 24 hours time: 38°:20'N 032°:32'W

Sea State: Calm with swell

Wind Speed and Direction: 8kts SW

Barometric Pressure: 1010mB


At midday yesterday, that being Saturday 29 May, I told the team to hang on
in there for another few hours. The gales had been with us since 1800 hours
the evening before and were not due to abate for another nine hours. We
were calm, the seas were rough but the good ship Oboe simply got on with the
job.

As if to reward us for our hard work and patience the storm broke precisely
one hour earlier than forecast. It was as if someone simply pulled the
plug, as the winds backed 40 degrees and the day glo storm jib sighed and
fell limp. The seas, of course, took a lot longer to abate, so there we
were tossing around like a cork going nowhere. "Engine on, drop the storm
jib" was the order. Off went the mate, tripping his way lightly along the
decks to the bow. Day glo was lashed to the tossing foredeck. Our long
blond-haired mate - renamed Rhianna, thinks of the storm jib as his and his
alone. "I rigged it, I harbour-stowed it to the foredeck for push-button
simplicity on hoisting. It's mine!". He is obsessively possessive of it.
"There you are my precious. All safe and sound again. Thanks for all the
work. Have a good sleep." Groans and yawns from the rest of the crew.
"You need counselling matey" from the skipper.

We were off again and pointing directly at Horta! I dialled in some secret
technology known only to the skipper. "Information is power" I exclaim and
so the crew is kept in the dark about deep inner workings of the auto pilot.
I locked us 500m to port of the fairway buoy a mile off Horta marina and
went to bed. Not long after I tumbled off my bunk. Straight-jacketed by my
mummy bag I was helpless to fend off the floor rising towards me. Over my
lee cloth I went and unceremoniously crashed to the floor. David kindly
asked if I was OK but before I could say no, was snoring again. I struggled
to untangle myself for an age, looking for sympathy but was alone.

Night fell, the crew adopted our "fair weather" one person watch system and
the big sleep began but not before the Top Ramen noodles were broken out and
boiling water poured on in our equivalent of a Chinese tea ceremony. After
an excruciating wait of 3 minutes, as per the instructions on the pack, the
slurping began, straight from the cooking pot. But that was only the
starter! Maggie delivered a steaming hot sausage casserole and veg, chased
down by tinned peaches and Ambrosia rice pudding. Oh this is the life! A
full tummy, calming seas and a f*****g uncomfortable bunk ...


Nigel

Date: 30 May 2010