Talulah's Log - 795 Miles to St Lucia
Talulah's Web Diary
Paul & Anette Morris
Mon 11 Dec 2006 21:43
position "14:33.087N 47:15.555W"
Monday 11th December
2006
After not seeing anyone or anything on this expanse of ocean for several
days, last night we got to see and hear on the VHF radio, 3 yachts, all French,
making their way further south - to Trinidad or Venezuela. They had
no SSB radio or satellite phone, and were glad of the contact. They
said that they had not made contact with anyone since 3 days out of the
Canaries. We spoke over the radio for a while before they
disappeared over the horizon. "Ships in the
night"
This
morning came damp but sunny. A few clouds scudding in our direction,
but they soon disappeared once the sun's heat came to bear. The
temperature rocketed to 31 degrees Celsius again and we sweated with the
parasail spinnaker as we hauled it out of the forepeak, and then flew it a
little off the port bow. Perfect! The winds have eased quite a lot and
we are only doing 5 to 6 knots now - even the seas are just 3 to 4 metres,
and have stayed that way the whole day.
I
decided that a haircut was due (not much hair to cut I hear you say!!!), and 10
minutes on the trampoline with the razor saw me looking like Marlon Brando
(haircut only - facial looks are a 'tad' different!!).
If
anyone were to ask me what I think is the most dangerous thing on an Atlantic
crossing in a yacht is, I would not say it was bad weather, or encounters with
rogue killer whales, or boredom - or even a bad lemon in your Gin &
Tonic! I would say it is 'chafe'. The constant (over
prolonged periods), rubbing of rope, line and canvas on other bits of plastic,
metal, or other rope produces a situation which can be dangerous - especially if
a line decides to part, or snap because of chafe, - and there is a 'load' on
it! I am constantly changing, moving, protecting all my points of
chafe in an effort to avoid the obvious. It's become an obsession.
......well almost, the generator at which I spend at least an hour a day
coaxing, is the other!!!
Well, sundowners now, and prawn linguine to follow - it's hell out
here!