Fw: Blog from Sadko, Mon June 11 1800
Sadko
Martin Lamport
Tue 12 Jun 2012 12:41
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The wind died yesterday afternoon and we have had
a night and a day of almost total calm. There is nothing for it but
to burn diesel to keep moving, or fall days behind our schedule. We have
chosen the former, but I hope this does not last too long.
On the good side, we profited from the conditions
to have our mid Atlantic dip this morning at 30deg55'N
55deg24'W. The water was wonderful, a most incredible blue for
as far down as infinity and not very salty. I dived off the pulpit with no
worries about hitting the bottom. With the
wind vane rigged clambering back aboard over the stern is not too
difficult.
It was also a good day to play with the sextant,
and we have taken, but not yet plotted our first sun sight.
Sadly, we have lost a crew member. Noel, the
wind vane lost its rudder some time yesterday. On examination a massive
stainless steel forging has just torn apart like cardboard. I assume this
is due to the hammering it received in the bad weather the day
before. Paul may be able to get a metallurgist to look at the
remaining pieces to determine the cause. Fortunately the other
self steering seems to be holding up. But it consumes power and makes a
nasty noise.
This bit of ocean seems practically devoid of
life. Apart from a pair of great shearwaters, who keep us company
with an endless flying display and a few jelly fish sails drifting
past, there is nothing to be seen. But at least the Sargasso weed, which
constantly fouled our fishing lines, has almost disappeared. No bites yet I'm
afraid.
Herb, the Canadian weather guru, with whom we
are in daily contact via the SSB radio predicts winds will improve for us in a
day or so.
Signing off for today
Martin
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