ARC Day 17
Starcross Fair Log
Ross Wilson
Tue 7 Dec 2010 22:50
|
Tuesday 07/12/10
Midday position 13:53.2N 39:30.7W
Noon - noon run: 124 NM
Plan +24 Hrs: continue on great circle
route to St Lucia 1248 NM
Today was certainly a day of changes. Having
started last night heading off on a reach directly for St Lucia, this was
unfortunately short lived, and by midnight we had to change back to the twin
poled out headsail rig. However, dawn finally brought the NE that we
had been expecting, and a lot of it. With 20+ kts of wiind, and a very
confused rough sea, we kept the trisail up and have been storming along all day
under a reefed genoa at generally 7+ kts! After so many flat days drifting accross the Atlantic, the bumpy
ride came as a slight shock, and has certainly been a test of all of our helming
ability.
After not seeing another vessel for six days, 3
came along at once tonight, and as I write we have another as yet unidentified
light on the horizon.
It has also been a good day for wildlife, with
sitings of a leatherbacked turtle, several dolphins and hundreds of flying
fish. We have also passed a number of small floating buoys, which we
assume are part of some weather monitoring system. Hopefully we avoid
hitting any of them tonight.
Regards to all!
Ross, Al, Al, Paul,
Will |