Anyone seen the trade winds?
ULA
John & Jackie Richards
Wed 3 Dec 2008 16:21
|
Position 018:04.80N 034:31.24W
The NE trade winds we need for a quick passage to
St Lucia appear to have gone AWOL. The skipper's gloom index ('SGI') is high
up the scale at the moment as our hoped for 18 day crossing is looking nigh
on impossible with the current unusual weather pattern. We should be bowling
along in NE trade winds, but these are being severely disrupted by a succession
of low pressure systems and the latest forecast expects a no-show
for at least the next 600 miles.
From midnight Monday to around 7am this morning we
have been on various points of sailing ranging from a beam reach to a broad
reach with the mainsail and genoa out. The wind strength has varied from
around 5 knots up to about 15 knots with varying directions ranging from SW(!),
SSW, S and now SE and so we have been continually trimming the
sails.We finally downed the main and got the spinnaker up this morning and are
now going in broadly the right direction doing 6 knots or so. The weather has
been very cloudy for two days and no stars at night so very dark. The wind seems
to die off almost completely around 7pm for a couple of hours or so and also
around 3am which is really frustrating. Think Howard mentioned in yesterday's
blog that we had watched 'Local Hero' in the cockpit on Mon night for a couple
of hours while Ula bobbed along under genoa only at around 3.5 knots. As we were
beam reaching in grey seas and skies yesterday, Adrian and I likened it to being
in the English Channel! The one big difference being the temperature - 30
degrees and humid. We are in tee shirts and shorts (even at night now) rather
than full oilies!
We are now in 'squall territory' and are having to
be vigilant because of the strong winds around them. So far we have manged to
avoid the big ones but just before lunch today one around 12 miles
across finally got us. The spinnaker hurriedly came down and the
boys got their shampoo and shower gel out and had a shower on deck as the rain
hit!! During the day it is not too bad when we can see them coming but at night
we have to pick them up and track them on the radar.
Conditions for the last 36hours or so have meant
not too many games and banter - we are either concentrating on keeping the boat
moving and safe, eating or sleeping - catching up on some zzz's as and when.We
are still in good spirits although despondent about the weather. Everyone
has plans for when we get to St Lucia and at this rate we could be several
days over our expected time. Judging by the ARC reports, other boats are the
same.
Enough gloom and doom for one blog........Howard
has been nicknamed 'Hoover' by Andrew for his ability to always finish up any
left-overs. We are all marvelling at his metabolic rate as he eats loads and
is still the skinniest crew member! The same cannot be said for Andrew
however - his getting thinner index ('GTI') has stalled, probably due to
the three rounds of bacon and tomato sandwiches he cooked himself this morning
(again!). We've told him if the provisions run out the fattest goes
first!?!Adrian is enjoying his 'vibrations' - the boat hums over a certain
hull speed and he is only happy when he's humming! Andy C and I are fine and
John has declared himself totally p......d off with the
weather!?! C'est la vie!
Thinking of family and friends, Jackie
|