Bermuda to Azores, May 5th / 6th
Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Mon 6 May 2013 15:23
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A short update.
The wind built last night and we shortened sail to
2 reefs and a No 3 genoa. After breaking through a line of squalls we found the
expected left shift giving us the opportunity to regain the northing we had
lost while the wind was in the north east.
As evening came, Nigel was running a critical eye
over the boat and it's equipment, particularly the rig, when he noticed a
potential problem. The bracket on the aft face of thee mast, to which the kicker
/ ang attaches, appeared to have a number of broken rivets. Closer inspection
revealed that thte bracket was coming loose and that aboult half of the rivet
heads were missing.
There was no time to design or effect a repair
before dark, so we assumed a windward stance, and used the mainsheet to take the
pressure off the kicker for the night. It was, and still is lumpy, so not our
most comfortable night at sea!
At dawn, amid flying spray, a form of repair was
carried out, using a spare dyneema halyard to create a lashing, tensioned
using a primary winch.
We tested the integrity of the botch, and it seems
to be holding, so we were able to bear away to assume a more easterly track as
soon as we had finished the repair.
Wind is 16 to 18 knots from the north. We are
travelling with very small sails across some large seas. Estimated at 3 to 4
metres, some of the waves are breaking, so much of the sailing is being done
from the safety of the saloon!
Daily run to 1500UT was highest yet on this
leg..reflecting the higher wind speeds. We covered 144 miles.
Position as at 1520UT is 33 51.997N 51
46.663W
We are travellng due east at 7 knots.
All well...
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