Off to Cape Verde
The Travels of Running Tide
Mick Norman
Fri 1 Feb 2013 13:01
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26:01.97N 16:31.24W
After failing miserable to get our gas bottles
topped up we finally set off AT 11.35 on 31 Jan with a full tank of fuel and
water and lots of food..
The plan was to head for Cape Verde but with
provisions to make it to the Caribbean if conditions don't permit a landfall in
Cape Verde.
The wind was blowing but from the wrong
direction. No forecast we had seen had wind from the south but that is exactly
what we had. We suspected it was land effects and after motoring for a couple of
hours the north easterlies we had expected kicked in. The speed hardly dropped
below 6kns all night. We weren't exactly on track but with 800miles to run that
wasn't a problem.
In the morning of 1Feb we pulling back on track and
we decided to try out the water powered generator. We threw the prop overboard
and saw it spinning away. Recover is not easy but we are getting used to it.
After a few teething problems we finally got it to work. It is the hope that
will keep the batteries topped up and avoid having to run the engine at all.
Just after we sorted it we discovered a squid on the deck that had propably been
washed on in the night. We christened our water gene Squid. as Aquair 100 was a
bit of a mouthful.To finish things nicely Peder christened the wind
generator Vinden.
So crew compliment is now Mick supposdedly in
charge, and Norm comprising the old men contingent, our carer Peder, Monica the
wind vane steerer, Squid and Vinden.
Still making good progress speed at the mo is 6.2kn
wind F4 from the east. Head sail, main and mizen in use. Dist covered in the
last 24 hrs about 133 miles.
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