Boogies and More Wildlife.....
Global Yacht Racing's P42
Global Yacht Racing
Fri 26 Sep 2008 09:01
Good Morning Bloggers, its Kate here!
Its Friday Morning onboard P42 we are currently 18miles from the next headland on our way around to Cartagena some 100miles away!
We left Gibraltar yesterday morning after victualing for the passage and performing a little engine maintanance (only the normal - nothing to worry about!!) The sun was out and blazing down on us, this was by far the hottest day so far, made all the better with the newly fitted stereo in the cockpit.
After getting a short distance around the headland it became clear very quickly that motorsailing was going to be the order of the day so, we set the fishing line and it was all hands on deck to catch some rays!
Wildlife update.... We were visited by dolphins yesterday on numerous occasions, they were bounding in from both sides jumping and diving putting on a real show for us, its quite amazing how they enjoy playing in the wash of the boat for ages! Over in the distance appeared two black dorsal fins moving very slowly through the water, pilot whales spotted off the port bow!!
Whilst we were all up on deck enjoying the entertainment lunch was being cooked down below by Tony. Spanish Omelette made perfectly by Morrisons!!!
By dinner we had totally given up on the idea of getting in a good sail with the seas still flat and not much in the way of a breeze kicking in, so Kath set to creating a wonderful concoction of fried vegetables and chicken to go in wraps. Who said racing boats don't have style and class!?
During the 0000 - 0300 hrs watch the wind finally decided to show an appearance with about 15 knots of true wind on the nose, so with one reef in the main (a clever setup on the sail which allows you to reduce the size of the sail quickly and easily without taking it down) and the #4 headsail (this is a relatively small sail, ideal for doing delivery trips) we were stonking along at 6.5 knots. Its a real shame it only lasted for just over three hours and reluctantly the engine went back on, only to be turned off very quickly as there was no cooling water coming out the back. The water intake had eaten a load of weed, which just took a few minutes to clear out. Somehow Paul and Ric managed to maintain a sense of humour while fixing it at 3am!
Throughout the night we have been visited many times by the dolphins and have not come across many ships at all, so this morning as we hug the coast of Spain hoping that when we get around the corner there will be some more wind, and at a better angle for us to sail (especially if we get an onshore sea-breeze).
Fingers crossed!!!!