Noon Report 12 November 2011 to Cape Verde
Oyster Moon
Paul Foskett & Rhu Nash
Sat 12 Nov 2011 12:32
12 November 2011, third day on passage to the Cape Verde Islands.
Noon report total distance travelled in the last 24 hours is 120 miles, that leaves approximately 547 miles to go. (Trip 280 miles from setting off at 9.00 am on the 10th)
24 hour sailing report
Again there was was very little wind through the day or night, we have had to motor sail between 4.7 and 5.00 knots, as we have now reduced the engine rpm down to 2000 rpm to try to conserve fuel.
We should have left on Saturday the 12 November as I suggested, as there was some predicted wind. Instead we left on Thursday with no or very little wind and the situation has not improved yet.
No excitement during the various watches through the night, as we had almost a full moon to light the way.
At 08.00 UTC on the 11th we put up the bag of fear, i.e. the Parasailor (the spinnaker which has a wing to keep it very stable.). The wind is variable from 7 to 11 knots, but we are getting a boat speed from 3.5 to 5.5 knots with the Parasailor.
We only managed to keep it up for about four hours as the wind died yet again, and so it would not keep inflated. We took it down so that it did not get damaged as it collapsed and run up against the mast
Lets hope for more wind today so we can start sailing, or we will have to reduce the boat engine speed even further to save more fuel.
Next report Noon on the 13 November 2011
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