01 An amazing first day
Starcharger
Sat 8 Jun 2019 04:35
Darwin tried not to let us leave. Just as we were manoeuvring around the marina to the lock, the alternator failed. It started overcharging the batteries. We tied up to the waiting pontoon outside and Wayne, from Wheelhouse Marine came down and replaced it! Four hours late, but we finally left!
Expecting no wind we were thrilled to get a few hours sailing in during the afternoon. The motor was on soon after dark. Alison was on watch and her throttling right back brought us on deck to the most incredible light display, I have never seen anything like it. The whole sea was covered in phosphorescent, like a million stars in the sea, bright sparkling lilly pads. So beautiful and ended as suddenly as it had started.
Shooting stars were flashing across the sky, Sagittarius was visible along with the Southern Cross. Before dawn the wind filled in and we unfurled the Genoa. After breakfast we flew the Code 0 for a few hours before switching to twin headsails.
116 miles in the first 24 hours is not too shabby. But now we are rolling rather badly, not sure what to do about that!
But all happy and enjoying the vast ocean
Fair winds
Alasdair, Gill, Alison and Peter
+61458 380549 Australian mobile phone
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+441372 463121 British land line
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Sent from Alasdair's iPad 6