Log Day 7: Still superb sailing conditions - by Elaine
Pipistrelle - where are we now?
Bob and Elaine Hazell
Sat 28 Nov 2009 19:50
20:44.34N 30:26.88W
After seven days at sea, we are still benefiting from
consistently favourable winds and now with one reef in the main and two in the
genoa, Pipistrelle continues to perform extremely well. Last night we
changed course to a more westerly heading, slightly above 20 degrees N to keep
us out of the forecast squall area further south. At noon today we had
sailed a total of 1040 NM - so we're not far off the half way
mark!
Four of our crew (Bob, Elaine, Alan and Paul) sail
a classic yacht called 'Overlord' which is run as a club in the UK. This
evening is the Annual Dinner at home so we thought it appropriate to hold an
outport gathering on board when Alan and Paul will be presented with 'The
Venables Bowl' for winning the recent club regatta. But it may yet have to
be postponed due to the current angle of the saloon table which is not conducive
to fine dining. Eating with a spoon out of anything other than a bowl
placed on a non-slip mat is courting disaster!
Paul and Alan have entered into their own facial hair
growth competition and after nearly a week, it's neck and neck. Will they
stay the course until St. Lucia? Whether Bob and Nick will follow suit is
undecided.
Paul is suffering from a cold and cough - thankfully
not quite influenza proportions - but he's been plied with various mediation to
promote speedy recovery including TCP, the distinctive 'perfume' of which
pervaded the boat interior for a couple of hours causing much ribald
comment.
That we've settled into a steady routine on board is
manifesting itself through the off-watch crew indulging in reading, listening to
music, fishing or snoozing during the day. All in all, at the moment life
on the ocean is an extremely pleasant experience.
Bob, Elaine, Alan,
Paul & Nick.