15:07.7N 54:47.308W
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Tue 8 Dec 2009 20:13
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Tuesday 8th December, 16:00
So how are the preparations for Christmas coming
along back at home, are the decorations and tree up, Christmas cakes made, have
you bought all your presents even the ones for relatives that you don't normally
see but just know will turn up unexpectedly? We were all talking about this last
night and can all agree that we're quite glad to be away from the real world and
the build up to the festive period that is constantly on the tv, billboards and
in the papers from the end of November. Having been confined to such a small
group for the past 3 weeks, it will be strange to be amongst any number of
people, let alone big groups......saying that Pat has said that crowds will not
deter him from getting to the front of the bar.
It has also been strange to not have any news from
the outside world, apart from a few welcome emails from family, what has been
happening in the world, have Obama and Brown joined a pact to go off and rule on
the moon, what has happened in the markets, how have our sports teams been
doing? To be honest we haven't missed it and will find out soon enough, but
until then we'll concern ourselves with eeking out every knot from our trusty
steed, turning eggs and making sure the remaining fruit and veg (yes, after 17
days we do still have apples remaining!) do not seap through the netting strung
up in the saloon.
What has been happening onboard over the past 24
hours, well I'm sorry to say very little or little that has been different from
the previous couple of days. We are heading more south westerly now, after
putting in a gybe after brekkie this morning and are currently heading towards
Barbados at about 6 knots. Over the next couple of hours, or at least before
midnight we should come across the next of the large weather bouys that are out
here in the Atlantic to track the course and strength of the seasonal hurricanes
(luckily the season finished at the end of November). Having heard about these
and seen them approach on the chartplotter, we are also keen to see one in real
life......I also think that a fishing lure out trolling as we pass reasonably
close to it will reap dividends, or a fish at least! Speaking of fish,
unfortunately yesterday did not result in the tuna that skipper had requested
after breakfast, however on reeling in the 70m of line we see something on the
hook and think that we had the remnants of a cheek or mouth and after a
battle it had escaped, not that lucky it was some paper from the
heads...yuck!
Last night was very clear and warm, with all on
deck for their respective watches in just shorts and t shirts. This is the
weather that we remember from the first transat 5 years ago, not the cold stormy
squalls that we've been experiencing this time, but I think that I remember that
we complained last time with the lack of action......this trip is certainly the
case of unfinished business for the 4 of us!
The A-Z game also came out in force last night on
both watches, Olympic sports, alcoholic drinks, musical artists, songs, movies,
parts of a boat kept us entertained. The funny time came when a certain
member of our watch kept on falling asleep, albeit only for a couple of seconds
until the roll of the boat jolted her (sorry given away who it is now, damn!
sorry Tina!) awake, but if the other two had been struggling we could convince
her that it was her go, U or X for an sport in the olympic games!! Surely an
incentive to keep your eyes open during that 12-4am watch. Saying that it
doesn't seem to worry Tony as he seems to be more comfortable switching watches,
he'll be awake for ours yet sleep on deck during his own, Moira and Pat have had
to stop him from nodding off and falling through the wheel or question him for
staring at the radar for 5 minutes! We've all done it and it is the benefit of
having 3 on each watch and to be honest there has been very little traffic at
night and even a nights respite from squalls....hooray!
At lunch today, it has been decided that we'll have
a sweepstake for our arrival time in St Lucia with the winner being taken out to
dinner to Charthouse, from what we remember a really good steak restaurant
across from the marina. Tony and Pat have been hearing about the Charthouse
steaks for the past 3-4 weeks, I only hope that they are still really good!
Based on current speed etc...I think that it will be around noon on Friday,
but we have til dinner to come up with the exact answer. All guesses will
be sealed and winner announced in the bar by our independent
adjudicator/intelligence officer/taker of lines aka Jane!
Everyone seems to be in good spirits today as we
gently roll along on this really hot afternoon, Pat, Tina and Tony are on deck,
Moira is prepping dinner in the galley alongside me. Mike has just walked out
from his cabin, to the amusement of all, wearing a fluffy green eye shade. Jane,
Georgie, Ali, have a word with him please as along with the jesters shirt (which
is being got ready!), we're getting worried, at least the mankini has not showed
itself!! I finally gave in and got rid of it today, I'd been waivering for
several days now and after a couple of hours on the helm in the intense heat
this morning in handed over the wheel and had a shave....it sounded such a good
idea to grow one not having done so before, but whilst down in the tropics not
one of my better ones..ha ha ha!! At least there is a day or two to top up the
tan!
The skies are reasonably clear at the moment, but
the typical flat bottomed trade wind clouds were out in force this morning. From
the latest grib (weather) files, we are due for a reasonable 24 hours, 20 knots
gusting 30 from the south east meaning that we should be able to press more
westwards although with any squalls (fingers crossed not) we may have to drop
further south to avoid these.
Anyway that's about it from me for today, so have a
good evening.
Love to all at home,
Mike, Tina, Tony, Pat, Moira and
Al
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