37:21N 17:54W Position update and Blog
The Snark on The ARC
Ben Little
Tue 31 May 2011 20:31
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Hi there,
The wind is whirling around and we have been on a
hard beat all day. It has been sunny so not so bad but now the night is
drawing in and we are headed toward a big bank of cloud. The worst part is
that despite a promise on the forecast for the wind to move around to the North
again currently. At least we have been maintaining around 7 knots of speed for
most of the day without engine even if the direction is more Madeira than
Gibraltar.
We have a berth now confirmed again in Gibraltar
(we are late so we were not sure). Still seeking to get into Mallorca but
it is sounding horribly expensive and we may delay till we have had
time to re-charge our batteries and see our families etc. After 2 weeks at
sea getting to the Azores we did only had 2 nights ashore not
really a break as we went out both nights (not expecting to
leave Saturday with a broken engine). Our general level of exhaustion
is exacerbated by the conditions and living with water along the guard rail is
tiring. Thinking of Chimera already probably through the straight
on in the Med!
The Snark is a comfortable and reasonably quick
boat but the accommodations are perhaps too spacious with large spaces to fall
across when trying to carry things from one side of the cabin to the other or up
on deck. I have fallen twice today and a big spill yesterday when a larger
than normal lurch sent the chair I was sitting in out of its' restraints and
across the cabin onto the saloon table. No cracked ribs but almost. Sorry
no amusing photos this time.
Another observation
today, the disappearance of Quentin added extra hours alone to the
watches on the flip side but the portions at dinner are getting
larger. What once was split 4 ways now is just split 3 ways, this is
in addition to the end of rationing (still no rack of lamb but getting
better). It is less to do with available food and more to do with the
package sizes. Rather than save 1/4 of a packed of pasta I still
cook the lot, and a tin of peaches split 3 ways is the same size as
one split 4 ways, just more in each bowl. I am still confident that
the dry boat, cold weather and lots of hours on deck are still working as a sort
of diet but Mike is complaining he is putting on weight again (I can't
see it though).
Checking the time I need to get on deck and relieve
Chris so he can go to bed. Then 4 hours till Mike gets up. Sweet
dreams all, and if you are on the water happy sailing.
Ben and the Crew of The Snark
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