Fw: Blog from Sadko, Sat 9 June 1000

Sadko
Martin Lamport
Sat 9 Jun 2012 14:28
We had our first Atlantic squall last night.  A big cumulo nimbus system, which had been brewing up behind us all afternoon must have overtaken us.  This was odd as we were reaching in southerly winds and thought it would drift off to the north.  Upper winds must have been more westerly.  Anyway, we had just finished supper (not a bad couscous under the circs) when this brute sneaked up on us out of the darkness and all hell broke loose.  Sadko took off like a loose horse at Beechers Brook and the three of us on deck trying to get sails reefed down were entertained to a wetting, rather like in the films, when you can tell there must be a fellow just off camera letting the hero have it with a fire hose.  We had the jib away smartish but in the dark and wind it took a bit of time to get all three reefs into the main, after which things became a bit more manageable.   Paul did a great job steering in total darkness and recorded 8.5 knots under main alone.
As the night wore on the wind dropped and we motored a bit, then let out the sails again and pottered along pretty peacefully at about 5 knots.But this morning the wind has increased steadily and we are flying along with three reefs back in the main and a small jib.  At least we are running due east, knocking off those miles to the Azores.
Everyone is well and enjoying the roller coaster as the seas get up into charging white horses that race past with the occasional splash ofspray on deck.
signing off now
Martin