The edge of the void
Rhiann Marie - Round the World
Stewart Graham
Wed 5 Oct 2011 12:58
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Wednesday 5th October 1226 UTC 1326
BST
03:17.68N 021:22.86W
Wind: very light and all over the place, COG 355
Deg True, SOG 7.9 Knots
Well that's it then, I've arrived at the edge of
the great big void at the eastern end of the ITCZ - the inter tropical
concergence zone - or the Doldrums or Horse Latitudes as they are known in this
part of the world. I had hoped to be able according to the forecast to sail on 6
- 9 knots of forecast easterly minds for most of today bofore ending up well and
truly in the "hole". However at 0200 this moring I hit a brick wall. The
conditions had been variable for most of the day and in fact yesterday afternoon
we had a long run of 20+ knots of wind giving, with all canvas up great
boat speeds and direction (VMG). The evening was areal struggle constantly on
the foredeck changing sail plan. Up with the pole down with the pole, gybe the
pole, gybe the main.
Then at 0200 nothing! It just stopped and we had
three knots of wind dancing round the boat like Cherokees round a wagon
train. The main at the time had been prevented and was all the way out against
the spreaders on the starboard side. As the swell was still with us there was a
lot of rolling but no forward motion. The main and the boom can be very
dangerous in this position and so it was. First I managed to get the main all
the way in as I could not risk releasing the preventer line which was all
the way forward at the bow. Now however i had to as I had to get the boom in.
Releasing the preventer and trying to ruch aft with it to get to the mainsheet
winch the boat took another wild roll and there I was at the end of
the line like a stockman trying to hold the wayward prize bull on his tether.
After being dragged as if snowboarding along the wet side deck I had to loosen
my grip on the line. If I release it a little it takes my finger prints with it
and only leaves several raw sausages on my hands. If I let it go completely it
is going to swing wildly. I had no choice and let it go and made a mad dash for
the cock pit to get to the mainsheet wich to reign it in. The mainsheet is on a
four times purchase because of the enormous loads - but that means it takes
a long time to winch in. In the meantime I was expecting the aft end fittings or
blocks to be ripped out of the boom. It happened to me before. Good grief there
wasn't even any wind!
The sheet wrapped itself round everything in sight
and in the process flung a helming seat coushion in to the dark and deep ocean.
I was lucky to get it in without severe damage. A sharp reminder of just
the sheer scale of everything aboard Rhiann Marie and the loads and forces
involved. Lessons learned: in that circumstance ease the preventer line a little
and sheet in and repeat the process, however eventually you have to take the
line off unless you get to stage where yo are able to just leave the boom
out there. Also clearly even without sail it is not possible to physically hold
the end of the boom from anywhere. Holding the wayward prize bull would be
easier.
Anyway since then it has been a continued constand
round of sail plan changes and a significant amount of motoring too. I had hoped
not to get onto engine until tomorrow thinking that about three days might take
me through the Doldrums. I do have the option of heading to the west of the Cape
Verdes with the added benefit of staying well clear of the West African coast.
However that takes me into a more volatile weather location and certainly will
leave me with a certain beat for a thousand miles against stiff sometimes
strong headwinds. That would be fine if it was spring or summer and in fact I
would head to the Azores then Gibraltar. No I think I will stick with my game
plan. It will mean as planned and expected using quite a lot of fuel over the
next few days but that was entirely yo be expected. I have barely used a
drop other than what the generator has required in about 3,900 miles since I
left Capetown on the 10th of September. It will still leave a long beat
from Cape Verdes to the Canaries but I have more chance there of gaining
some benefit of winds affected by the African coast and even the trades creat a
better angle for me. That's my plan and I am sticking to it. Unless that is I
change my mind. Daily weather reports are always received and pored over for any
perceived better option.
Tomorrow almost certainly I will be right in the
hole with no wind. It is currently hot and sticky and very wet. There is squall
after squall as I pass though the ITCZ which is marked by a long belt of cloud
and precipitation and squally conditions.
No deaths aboard yet from the "waste not want not
food" retention policy.
Keep the e-mails coming on rhiann {DOT} marie {CHANGE TO AT} gaelforce {DOT} net
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