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"19:.06917N 40:54.983W "
Day
12
Rough
Sailing
Downwind helming in strong winds and rough seas is
our daily routine. Our crew skill at this has improved as the days have
worn on. The huge waves at the stern of the boat come at various angles
and there is no rhythm to them - you get used to being knocked off to
winward/leeward with the sails powering up. After a while you learn to
nurse SSL back on course and she behaves herself for a minute or two until
the next monster wave lifts the stern again. Essential to the rig is a good, efficient mainboom
preventer - over the days we would have done 100+ accidental
gybes if we had not had a really good
preventer.
Skipper popping the champagne
cork :-
David - Skipper
Life in the
Cabin
Being thrown around the cabin like a ping pong ball,
come trapeze artist is normal, isn't it?! We share four
bunks(hot-bedding) between the six of us so different
watches sleep in different bunks in rotation
- some bunks are more comfortable than others therefore sleep is a
real luxury, unless of course you like being tossed around in a spin
dryer! Opening the cupboards is a risk - if you get it wrong the contents
come flying out all over the cabin floor - the mop is therefore
always at hand!
Other minor accidents to date:
- Eggs falling onto a bunk giving premature
birth
- Rotten fruit dripping
out of the net onto the cot (the bunk in the main cabin)
- + a host of spillages around the stove
and galley
Our domestic chores are never done as we are
always having to clean up something or other - good training for the
married men on board!
We're glad the blog doesn't have a smell sensor as
we've not washed for 11 days now - we're dreaming of a hot shower,
shampoo for our manky hair and clean
clothes!
We had a big celebratory sundowner last night with
champagne (one glass spilt!) rather than beer, the toast being
'halfway there'. Anyone who wants to turn back now will have to
swim!
Philippa taking on the monster waves :
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Philippa - deck ape
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