ARC Day 16

Starcross Fair Log
Ross Wilson
Mon 6 Dec 2010 22:24
 
Monday 06/12/10
Midday position 13:36.2N 37:07.6W
Noon - noon run: 109 NM
Plan +24 Hrs: continue on great circle route to St Lucia 1388 NM
 
The day started out with a bit of a deja vu - we maintained the twin poled out headsail arrangement throughout last night and during the day and waited for an advantageous wind shift. At least the wind speed stayed above 10 knots, giving us an average speed over groud of 5.5 - 6 knots.  Excitement came at sunset when the wind shifted to become north easterly.  This meant that we could go on to a reach with the main sail and the large headsail.  This was great news as it means we can have faster boat speed for he same wind speed, and keep our bearing for St Lucia - hurray!
 
The sea had been one of the bumpiest yet, very 'hilly' due to large swell and waves together.  It is still classified as moderate.  It just makes manoevering around the cabin that bit more interesting.  Alex also chose today to bake brownies, which turned out to be a bit lop sided but no-one complained.
 
For the first time Al tried out his celestial navigaion skills, and took some measurements of the sun angle with the sextant.  He hasn't yet calculated the results, so just as well we have GPS.  Tonight he plans to take some measurments with the stars if clouds permit, but first has to work out which star is which.
 
Ross suddenly became to look very respectable after his shave and a clean shirt, whilst the rest of us resemble (and some smell like) stray wet mongrels.  Naming no-names, one of our antipodeans decided it was time to get out the budgy smugglers claiming 'It's too effing hot, I'm allowed to wear them - we're in the tropics after all'.
 
Thank you all for your emails which we've enjoyed reading.
 
Ross, Al, Al, Paul, Will