She has Shown her Mettle
Pemandia
Peter Fabricius
Tue 24 May 2016 09:45
....and he has been spoken to by the Captain.
The night continued like the day. wind F6/7 and massive seas. I found that we could make some progress with reefed mainsail and engine and continued like that overnight. When (eventually) I got going this morning I was pleased to see we were down to 165 miles to my waypoint.
This boat has really looked after me. I don't know what scientific analysis of the conditions here would reveal and memory distorts things. However thinking back over 55 years of sailing and probably 20 Biscay crossings, I do not think I have sailed in conditions like these before. Perhaps for a few hours or even a couple of days, but not for this long and not with the massive seas I have been having.
The bloke on the boat had to be taken for a long country walk this morning. Lay in bed with a thumping headache and dry mouth (no alcohol for days) and realised I was also for the first time feeling a bit seasick. Anyway he seems to have responded to a good talking to and the usual two mugs of tea and bowl of muesli got him going. My bicycle water bottle (Emily's suggestion) has been an excellent idea which helps me motif or fluid intake as well as achieving it.
The wind is NW now, still F6/7. I am not quite hard on the wind and although still rough I have not seen any of the blocks of flats of the last 48 hours. I have set some Genoa and stopped the engine. We are going quite quickly and I am wondering if I will dare to hope I might arrive some time tomorrow.
I must see if the forecast is in yet...
Peter
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