Day 12

Ripples2
Sat 6 Dec 2014 15:24
We encountered our first serious squalls tonight, just as I came on my watch. I spent hours glued to the radar screen watching the ebb and flow of these nebulous cloud formations. They manifest themselves on radar like an angry scar, the air takes on that thundery feeling prior to a storm. We reduced the sails and got ready for a soaking. Having little experience with radar, it is fascinating to watch. As I write, we are keeping just behind the worst of it as it moves off to our port bow. Later..it all passed us by without incident, squalls bring with them very high winds from undetermined direction so I am a little disappointed not to have experienced the phenomenon but we still have a long way to go.
We are still power sailing, for three days now 24\7, we use each engine alternately and have estimated using three liters of fuel an hour, so our 800 liters of fuel should last until the promised winds kick in. If not it's going to be a long last few days under sail only.
We are not likely to be there for next Fridays 'jump up' , something I experienced last time in St Lucia, where they close a street and have a big party with street food and dancing, but we may still get there for the Saturday.
Had a lazy day today with last shift at 4 am yesterday and not on 'till midnight tonight.
Nothing much more to report as I write, we just have to keep hoping for better sailing.