Day 14 - To motor, or not to motor? That is the question.
Sulana's Voyage
Alan and Sue Brook
Sun 5 Dec 2010 08:35
Day 14 and, as at 22:00 UTC, our position on the 4th of December is now
looking quite a bit more comfortable than it was, as the breeze is - wait
for it - holding up into the night for the first time in seeming ages!
Looking at the forecasts and the wind we are now in, it might just be that
we are finally in the trades.
It is Saturday evening after a delicious dinner of Marlin Fishcakes, served
in a sweet chilli sauce, with a mango salsa, and we are bowling along at
8.5knots straight for St Lucia.
Incidentally, for some unknown reason, the ARC website position for Sulana
is being recorded at 06:00hrs, rather than at 12:00hrs, as for the rest of
the fleet, which means we are some 50 miles further along the course than
shown. Maybe there is something up with our little yellow transmitter?
We can't quite get used to the idea that there has been 10 inches of snow at
Mersea and here we are in shorts and tee shirts and hot at that.
We have had lots of discussion about having to turn the engine on, if we
have another night like the last few. From midnight to 07.00hrs last night
we did just 13 miles and, with 1,300 to go, things were not looking too
promising. We calculated that we could probably motor for a maximum of 500
miles, so a great deal of sailing is still required whatever we decide. The
race event closes on the 17th, not that that is the primary objective, but
it is nice to take part and even nicer to sail all the way.
More important to Sulana is the arrival of the family for Christmas on the
19th and the start of a new cruise, which means time is required for boat
clearance, cleaning, servicing and provisioning. Then there are crew flights
pre-booked for home and decisions on whether to bite the bullet and try to
transfer to later dates. If it is a nightmare for us it must be so much
worse for the many yachts back down the course.
For our answer, watch this space..,but, for now at least, the engine stays
OFF!
All the best for tonight, from Peter and Alan.
