Although we travelled well yesterday the wind died on us at about 2230 and
we were again using the iron sail for the rest of the night. Sail handling
by the crew is now quite slick and we had the spinnaker down and stowed in
the locker as well as the main and Genoa up and working in 7 minutes. The
Genoa didn't last long as the wind dropped to a level where we could not
keep it driving. The wind returned at 0800 and the big blue sail was once
aging hoisted and has been moving us along at 6 knots all day. We are now a
lot lighter having consumed most of the fuel and food on board and that is
helping us along as well. The weather during the day is lovely with clear
blue skys, bright sunlight but not too hot. The temperature drops quickly
once the sun sets but now that we have moved to GMT on board it stays light
until nearly 2200. The Azores keep GMT -1 but are on summer time we think so
we have progressively moved our clocks with our longitude to match the
arrival time zone. Kuki is on fine form again and has been meditating on our
neighbour Sylvia's cakes which she is now drooling at the thought of. We
have run out of sugar and that is contributing to Kuki's hallucinations.
Charles of course, is suffering withdrawal symptoms from a lack of chocolate
biscuits, Marathons and as of today, cornflakes (frosties) - we do have
wheetabix but the lack of sugar seems to have taken the lustre off them. WE
are still uncertain where the storm travelling behind us will head though we
are still marginally ahead of it. We are hopeful that it will follow some of
the weather forecasts and recurve north towards the UK so we are not exposed
to the worst of it. If we are able to maintain 6 knots ( which we have not
done so far) we should be at Horta late on Sunday night or early Monday
morning. The sailing when we have the wind and the weather is great and in
some respects it will be a shame to swap it for the marina. Nevertheless we
are all now at the point where after over three weeks a night which involves
a continuous 8 hours sleep is probably necessary.
"Notes from a Small Boat lacking Chocolate" - well, it is a sad day for the
crew of SY Osprey due to the fact that the last of the Oreos were consumed
today and there only remains one mini snickers bar. The question is who
will get to eat it - Charles or John, the even money is on John as he has
the first night watch.
The Azores are now within 150 miles, and if the wind does not do its usual
trick of dropping around 2200 hrs then there is a chance of arriving
tomorrow evening. This has galvinised Kuki into action, extorting one and
all - including the wind gods - to "bloody well get us there!"
As for John he has earned another nickname, this time Grumpster! Today he
has been a thorough misery guts, extolling the virtues of "Grumpy Old Men"
and generally getting at the rest of the crew. We think this is due to a
lack of sugar in his tea and coffee coupled with the crews democratic views
i.e. each does what he likes, paying only the minimal attention to the
Skipper.
John was totally confused earlier today, when Kuki & Charles secretly put
the clocks forward the final hour so that we are on the sametime as the
Azores. John struggled to comprehend this, which only added to his state of
grumpiness!
Anyway, it is a beautiful evening and so the crew are sat enjoying the early
evening sun on the Terrace, whilst laughing at the fact that Charles by
putting the clocks forward has even less chance of any sleep before his
watch!
