45:20.7N 020:45.8W Midday (BST) Fix 6 June 2010 Love 'em Or Hate 'em!
Oboe D'Amore's Web Diary
Nigel Backwith
Tue 8 Jun 2010 10:59
2010
View our progress on Google Earth at: http://blog.mailasail.com/oboe
GPS Position: 45:20.7N 020:45.8W
Sea Miles (previous 24 Hours): 144nMs
Sea Miles to date: 3,732nMs
Present Course Over Ground: 060°M
Present Boat Speed 7.8kts
Average Boat Speed (previous 24 hours): 6.0kts
Average Boat Speed to date: 6.4kts
Estimated GPS Position in 24 hours time: 46°:38'N 017°:32'W
Sea State: Moderate
Wind Speed and Direction: 17kts NNW
Barometric Pressure: 1006mB
What image is conjured up by the term "Night Watch"? Perhaps: Gliding along
silently on glassy water, a swathe of moonbeam washing over the ocean,
disturbed by only the faintest of ripples. The infinity of stars separated
diagonally across the heavens by a brush full of white water colour wash.
Or perhaps: Pitch dark skies and heaving seas, a horizon masked by mist and
drizzle. A large container ship approaching at speed, sounding alarms on
the radar but invisible to even the keenest eye. An ice cold saltwater hose
directed at the watch keeper in the cockpit. An inability to stand without a
tight grip on anything to hand. Don't you just love 'em?
Last night we experienced the night watch from hell! But here we are,
midday on Tuesday 8 June. Ryan sleeps, Rob keeps watch in bright sunshine,
David grates cabbage for a coleslaw and boils eggs for a salad lunch and I
am once again saying hello to friends and family via Oboe's blog. Life goes
on but not as you know it (apologies to Mr. Spock)! If you underline all
the warnings signs taught to RYA Yachtmaster candidates and brought these
things to life in one single night you would have last night. To name but a
few: Barometer dropping 4 points in 4 hours (sure sign of imminent gales),
waves over 4 metres high breaking on the beam, wind veering from W to NE in
a matter of moments stalling the boat till trimmed then sending us directly
towards Gibraltar! Approaching motor vessels, never to be seen other than as
blips on the radar in fog and incessant drizzle. Tiredness - oh woe! And
all of this thrown at the poor individual who happened to be on watch at the
time, joined by the skipper, who it seems, was trying to see how many times
he could dress and undress in a night in an attempt to get into the Guinness
Book of Records.
All looked pretty miserable as dawn broke. The motor was on, the wind on
the nose, the seas rough, Oboe was complaining and the crew were quiet. But
Neptune took pity and calmed the seas and the Zephyrs backed the winds and
urged us to sail. "Put up some canvas, matey. Sail on, sail home, hard on
the wind lads, give 'er her head and God speed!"
Nigel
Date: 8 June 2010