Sadko update 12 June 1900
Sadko
Martin Lamport
Wed 13 Jun 2012 12:38
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Position: 32deg12'N 53deg12'W.
We have wind at last. A weak south westerly
at first, which has improved all day. At 0400 we turned off the motor and
got under sail. Then at 0500 changed tack to run more north. Paul
and Hugo had the spinnaker up by the time I was up at around 7 AM and we cruised
along all day making about 5 Kts in light winds.
By this afternoon the wind was a bit stronger and a
dirty black cloud was brewing up to the north of us. Mindful of our
experience a few days ago I judged it prudent to put away the spinny while
conditions were relatively benign. Thanks to our modifications to the
snuffer it came down without bother. We then hoisted out our modified
goose wing tackle and wallowed along down wind for an hour or so, without quite
enough wind to keep the sails drawing comfortably. But it picked up as the
afternoon wore on and soon we were rolling along witha following sea hitting the
high end of 6 kts. As we made quite a lot of northing today, getting
to the approximate lattitude of Bermuda, I judged it best to dismantle this
arrangement before nightfall and run nearer due east. This tactic is
confirmed by a grib file we obtained after some struggles with the
technology and my evening chat with Herb on the HF radio. He is tracking
about 15 boats at the moment, scattered all over the north Atlantic, so the
process takes the best part of an hour.
Other highlights of today included a nice VHF call
from a passing bulk carrier, Clipper Monash, and passing 1000 miles from
Anegada, so all on board now qualify for OCC membership. The main brace was
duely spliced with a celebratory G&T this evening.
No sooner had I commented on our lack of
success as a fishing vessel yesterday than we hooked our first
fish. Paul, the fisherman, reckons it was at least 20lbs of blue fin
tuna, probably worth more than the boat on the Japanese sushi market. But
it got away as we tried to hall it in, so sushi is off the menu yet again.
Such is fishing!
Signing off
Martin.
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