36 29N 003 12W
Pipedream
Fri 24 Jul 2009 13:36
I think the radio is going but I have not been able to make any significant contacts yet. We got the AIS (automatic identification system) installed and I think working. Like an aircraft transponder it transmits our GPS position to other ships so they know we are here and which way we are heading. We got it in just in time as we are getting a lot of ship traffic as we head north out of the straights. I should be able to see them and their positions as well. I can on the computer but not yet on the chart plotter. The directions are real vague and I am not sure which wire goes to which wire. I replaced the controls on the Lewmar windless. New when we left Jax. Seawater turned the insides to green mush... the fourth refrigerator repair man fix another leak and replace the gas once again. Cold beer but at what cost!
Mary is getting her sea legs and we are settling in to the three day passage to Ibiza, Spain. I never did get to meet a Monkey. It turns out the minister of defense from Spain was meeting with brass from Gibraltar at the top of the rock. So after Mary and I waited in line for about an hour they closed the rock down for security. Chris and Matt walked and were able to see the whole thing. We paid the marina bill, got fuel, and picked up our shootin' irons from customs and headed out through lots of anchored ships in about 30 Kts of wind. We set the reefed main and the stay sail and ran at about 6 kts most of the night with the wind behind up. We again got those following seas everyone wished us! Rockin and rollin. Lots and lots of ship traffic but the AIS seems to be doing its thing. They mostly just change course a little for the sail boat and go around us. Saw a very big fishing ship last night. We altered course around him. There are many boats just sitting around out here outside of the main shipping lanes. It has been unusual to just see them standing still and not anchored. Maybe no cargo in a tough economy?
Matt baked a couple of big slabs of salmon last night - he even cooks! We are all just sitting around munching on bread chips. olives, and cheese. In the words of Roy Lyons,"Life is good..." Not sure who is cooking tonight.