32:22.8N 064:40.6W Midday Fix 17 May 2010 Hardship Posting Or What?
Oboe D'Amore's Web Diary
Nigel Backwith
Mon 17 May 2010 16:39
2010
View our progress on Google Earth at: http://blog.mailasail.com/oboe
GPS Position: 32:22.8N 064:40.6W
Sea Miles (previous 24 Hours): 10nMs
Sea Miles to date: 1027nMs
Present Course Over Ground: Moored up
Present Boat Speed: Moored up
Average Boat Speed (previous 24 hours): N/A
Average Boat Speed to date: 6.2kts
***Velocity Made Good (VMG) to date: 5.6kts ***
Estimated GPS Position in 24 hours time: ?
Sea State: Calm
Wind Speed and Direction: 11kts SW
Barometric Pressure: 1011mB
(VMG - An accurate measure of the average velocity achieved to date along
our chosen rhumb line from Antigua to Dartmouth, UK)
I know we will have no credibility with our readers when I say that we are
working very hard here in sunny, beautiful Bermuda and that there is no time
to relax and enjoy the remarkable colonial surroundings, stunningly
well-presented buildings and indeed the great bars, restaurants and cafes
strung out along the lagoon that is St George's Harbour. We have, however,
become the subject of much attention from the cruise ship tourists, mostly
Americans, doing their "golly gees" at a re-enactment of the dunking chair
punishment a girl in 18th century costume. The town cryer rings his hand
bell and shouts his "Oh Yeas" and the tourists wonder at the spectacle. We
seem to have become part of a pantomime, answering questions about Lil Old
England, and we receive completely blank faces when we tell them we are
about to set sail for Dartmouth. Golly Gee, just like the Mayflower! - Uhhh
no not quite!
Last night Jay and Jackie, my erstwhile neighbours in London, who live most
of the time in Bermuda, joined us for dinner in the local pub with its
terrace looking out at Oboe and beyond over the lagoon. Everyone had a good
relaxing evening and lots of laughs. It was an appropriate way to say
goodbye to Wendy, who due to the closure of Gatwick, will fly out on
Tuesday. Jay has been great in helping us source the parts and services we
need to get Oboe back on passage and at the time of writing, we are still
planning to leave this island paradise tonight, Monday.
Knightime dropped its lines and slipped away at 1000 hours this morning
local time and headed off to The Azores, hoping to ride a weather front
north west for a while. It would be good if we could take the same
opportunity, as the forecast suggests that the winds will tail away later on
today and not come back for 3 days! Umm... three days stranded on Bermuda
with nothing to do ... No, let's work a bit harder guys and get out of here!
Nigel
Date: 17 May 2010