Slow Day

Seanachai
Tue 6 Dec 2016 05:51

14:57.00N 34:56.00W


Good Evening from mid Atlantic

This morning was good, cracking along at 6 plus knots. Wind died this afternoon and we have only be doing 3.5 to 4 knots. This has obviously delayed our ETA in St Lucia which is a shame as Billy and April are only out there until the 22nd. However, I still justify the stop in Cap Verde as we met another yacht when enroute to Cap Verde, we were still 24 hours away. They were drifting west.... we had a couple of really nice days there, ate well, had washing done, filled up on fuel and water and they are now only approx 250 miles ahead of us.


ALex has just woken me up from a deep sleep - it's 0300 hrs. Still very little wind, 10 knots from astern which is just about giving us 4 knots through the water. At least the sea is calm so the wind isn't knocked out of the sails every time you roll. The rolling by the way has been a bit crazy on occasions. If there is a swell and wind less than 15 knots we roll through about 50 degrees every 5 seconds. Strangely enough you get used to it, your body continuously making adjustments even when sitting down. Very good for our core muscles!


We had roast chicken, mash, carrots and leaks last night followed by a movie. All good apart from the iPad trying to throw it self off the table with the rolling. The film was Life Aquatic which was a bit coals to Newcastle!


A ship appeared on AIS yesterday which was a very exciting moment as out here the screen is usually completely blank. The Gemini G heading from some god foresaken place straight out of a Graham Green novel like Macapa on the Amazon to Immingham. I called him up on the VHF and asked him if he could see us on AIS. Negative said the Philipino watchman. I said I would reboot my system and asked us if he could give us a shout if we appeared. Duly did the high tech thing of switched everything on and off and sure enough he called me back. SEENAHHCHEE I see you! Made his day as I should imagine it's unbelievably boring motoring a slow 8 knots for days on end.


Alex is being a star and bouncing around the place when not fast asleep. She is main meal planner coming up with extraordinary receipe suggestions with the limited fresh stuff left. We still have a couple of fresh packs of meat and then it's on to the cooking chorizio, vacuum packed Bratwurst and salami's. The veg is doing really well. Melon for breakfast and then the last huge avocado for lunch.


 I knew I should have had a Bimini fitted. It's unbearably hot in the cockpit in the morning when the sun is beating down till about 1400 hrs when it goes behind the mainsail. Thats when Paul gets all excited and starts stealing the last of the ice from the freezer area in preparation for a sundowner. Paul is constantly in good humour despite the rolling, heat and lack of showers!


Alex's birthday on the 7th ( lots of HB emails please) so I am going to make a stab at a cake in the morning. Hopefully, half way party the day after that and then the count down as we should have under a thousand miles to go. Just need more wind!!


I am growing a beard which is driving me nuts, but ALex says it's modern and makes me look younger so will persevere for the sheer vanity of it.


Henry 









Sent from my iPad