Christine's Atlantic Circuit
Peter Lansdale
Mon 28 May 2018 17:38
|
48:00.5N 016:55.9W
We can tell we are getting nearer to Europe,
by the increase in the level of shipping. Sometimes we see 2 or 3 a day! Well I
say see...what i mean is that we can spot them on the "electronic ship
detecting" AIS, and they tend to pass us further away than the visible horizon.
The passage seems to go at varying rates according to one's mood; so now we are
less than 600 miles to Plymouth, it seems to be going quicker especially since
we have suitable wind...at the moment! There are couple of possible spoilers
though, firstly the wind is set to change, first by dropping, and then later
swinging round to be against us (are we down hearted? no of course not ...well
not much!) The second factor is we know from experience, that when we get much
closer, the last 50-100 miles or so will seem slow. There is
no official logical explaination, just something in our heads triggered by
the "so near so far" effect i suppose.
We are doing our best to lighten the boat by eating
stuff, and as i write Lynn is conjouring something nice smelling in the galley.
As regular readers will know, we tend to take turns in the galley, and the
results are always impressive (well apart from Ian's corned beef hash
which is best left in the "nourishing" category!) So, not
only has it been a terrific sail, but the restaurant has been marvelous, with an
excellent menu and view....just a terrible drive to get to! Galley operations
have been impeded by the only can opener being rushed to surgery for emergency
gluing as it's handle has fallen off. Thus proving the origin of the phrase "we
had one of them but the handle fell off!" within the English
language.
The increasing night chill, resulting in many more
layers of clothing, has not prevented Manuela from enjoying more wildlife. I do
not think she (or any of us come to that) has seen so many whales on
passage, and one even obliged with an almost cartoon like water spout as it
surfaced. Manuela also is auditioning for the milkmaid role making
more yoghurt, which is a real treat out in the middle of the
sea. Peter continues to be our chief "sail molester" and even managed
yesterday to contrive a rig with 2 genoas one on each side, and a main all at
the same time. It was a good thing we managed to sit on the sail locker to
prevent him reaching for the spinnakers! Ian seems to have set himself up as a
cuckoo clock, making himself useful by pointing out when it is time for
afternoon tea and meals, but failing in watch keeping by getting up and fully
suited up an hour too soon for an 0300
watch...doh!
|