Arc Day 12+1 - Calendar boys

Tucanon
Dick and Irene Craig
Fri 4 Dec 2009 20:52
We were hit by three squalls last night but managed to sail through them without adverse effect, gusts not exceeding 30knots. The thunderstorms which were threatened were a long way from us although we could see flashes of very distant lightening periodically.

We did have a bit of a problem with the parasailor when the wind changed direction twice within minutes, the second time by 50º.

It was all the night watch could do to stop the sail wrapping around the forestay and help was enlisted from the crew, sleeping below, who rushed on deck wearing not much more than their life jackets. This would have been a perfect photo shoot if the situation hadn't been so serious. However, rather than miss out entirely on the opportunity to get the lads to take off their togs, here is a picture taken later in the day, the basil plants protecting their modesty. See the photograph "calendar boys".

While on the subject of nudity for arts sake, do try to get a copy of the calendar produced by "Girls for sail" for 2010, somewhat more tasteful than our picture, all proceeds go to Cancer research. They are also participating in the ARC 2009, website address www.girlsforsail.com

Despite ensuring that the parasailor didn't wrap around the forestay, in fact it was coaxed back to fly as normal, the snuffer did manage to twist itself between the halyard and the mast and it was with patience that the boat was maneouvred , such that the snuffer was able to sort itself out. This occurred between the first and the second squall and we were grateful that the parasailor problem had been dealt with before the stronger winds arrived, not to mention the teeming rain.

During the early hours of the morning we passed the point where we had traveled 2/3 of the distance to Rodney bay. This was a little bit of a struggle as we had to do quite a bit of unwanted northing, to enable us to ride comfortably through the squalls.

To celebrate crossing the 2/3rds point, extra snacks were provided. Pate for those members of the crew who prefer savoury snacks and Victoria assorted chocolate biscuits, for those of us with a sweet tooth. We already have an amazing selection including home-made flapjacks, chocolate bars, rock cakes, plus a selection of cheeses and savoury biscuits, fruit cake, sponge cake, Marie biscuits, an assortment of fun sized chocolate treats such as mars bars, twix, bounty etc. and fresh fruit. Food is very important to us so we try to have available on board, most of what we could get if we were at home.

One might think that all of this good eating is making us all a bit roly poly but not so, only today Chris was boasting that his shorts now are too big for him.

The towels on the boat are washed on a weekly basis on a very hot wash. What with the power taken from the batteries by the heating element within the washing machine, plus the power taken by the immersion heater and the water maker, even though the Onan 11 kilowatt generator was switched on, adding the convection oven to the load caused the electricity to fuse. Not once, but twice within five minutes.

A red label is now stuck on the convection oven button with the hope that when cook needs to switch it on, there will first be a check made to ensure that the fuse is not likely to be overloaded. Most times this isn't a major problem but once a week, when the towels are washed, it can be a problem. Also when the BBQ is in use and the convection oven is on, the immersion heater needs to be switched off.

The cakes had to be cooked in the gas oven while the fuse and the batteries cooled down and the washing machine completed its cycle. That in itself should be punishment enough for cook to remember in future.

Today we had tuna salad for lunch and the fruit salad to follow used the last of the melon. This shouldn't have occurred but when the green-groceries were delivered to the boat in Las Palmas, only one, not the two which had been ordered, were delivered and it was then too late to rectify the omission.

Now that we have been at sea for almost two weeks, checking the stores of fruit and vegetables is not such an onerous task. We do still have lots of apples and citrus fruit though the latter have fared less well than the other fruit and we have had to discard three lemons and one orange. We also still have lots of salad stuff, probably enough to last until we reach Rodney bay.

Supper tonight is roast chicken with stuffing and roast potatoes, carrots, peas and French beans.

Irene

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