13:31:848S 21:55:797W Midway St Helena and Salvador
Shaya Moya
Don & Susan Smyth
Tue 3 Feb 2015 11:50
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After 830nm and 7 days on the Big Ocean we
are only half way to Salvador Brazil from St Helena. The South Atlantic is
living up to its reputation of being a benign light and variable wind ocean. We
carry 1000 litres of diesel, and with an average consumption when motoring for
range, we can do about 900nm. ST Helena to Salvador is some 1900nm so we have to
sail, like it or not. It must have been a torrid time crossing oceans back in
the days of sailing ships. At least we had time for some
grooming.
  We motored some 400nm before the wind filled in
from the SE just enough for us to hoist Big Orange. This is our cruising
spinnaker for use in just these conditions. It is an awesome sight. Shaya Moya
picked up her skirts and set off at a respectable 5-6kts. Not too fast but what
a relief to be able to have the engine off . As can be
imagined life aboard had become quite boring and morale was on the ebb until Big
Orange came out. We went from 3,5kts to 6kts exhilerating.
   Tom went up the mast to check for chafe on the
swivel, block and sheave that Big Orange was hoisted on and got some great
photos, including the mandatory Selfie. Quite an achievement with the mast
swaying around, oh to be young and agile again.
   Our AIS(Automatic Identification System) has gone
on the blink, blowing fuses. On a previous blog we showed a screen shot of all
the boats around us in harbour on AIS. Most useful for avoiding other
shipping.Nothing we can do to fix it ourselves. An email to Oyster resulted
in their customary prompt response giving us contact details for two Raymarine
agents in Salvador. Lets hope that it is a minor issue and can be swiftly fixed.
We have now reverted back to the good old fashioned radar to monitor shipping. A
huge liquid carrying tanker has just passed in front of us as I write this. It
must be about 1000ft long.
We have dined extremely well on board, the
highlight being Aunty Joan's macaroni and cheese bake. Wonderful, many thanks.
We have had very little luck catching fish with only small tiddlers being
caught, so what a delight when both rods began screaming. Ant had caught his
first fish, a wopping 8kg tuna. Ted produced a great sushi platter while
teaching me how to make for future. I am sure Sue will be delighted, no
pressure. Tom's signature dish of chargrilled tuna steaks followed and we
still have some tuna left. We could not fish when flying Big Orange as we
had no quick way of slowing down, but now that the wind has picked up and we are
back on poled out Yankee and main I am sure the fishermen will be on deck
again.
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