Less than 400 miles to go...day 23 - 37:12.499N 38:42.304W
Voyage of Wanderingstar
Ben Bonnick
Sat 5 May 2018 11:47
There is a list, nothing major but poor old Wandering Star and crew are getting tired. The cooker gimbal went so I’ve lashes up something to hold it in place for now, there are some small rips in front sail that I’ve taped for now, there's a slight fuel leak from filter bracket on engine. In fact I’ve decided to leave the fuel leak alone its not much no more than two or three thimbles an hour and its well away from the exhaust or anything hot so it is not a danger. It just runs down into the bilge where it mixes with the sea water and gets pumped out each morning The problem is the bracket is old and the last thing I need is to strip the thread or break the bolt head and I would have a real problem so in good engineering terms I’m monitoring the situation.
On top of that the boat is rolling uncomfortably in the down winds. Ive set and re-set the sails a number of times using the pole not using the pole, extending the front sail, bringing in the front sail to adjust the balance but I don’t seem to be able to prevent it, I think its the swell.
Regarding progress, its good and I’m in the process of trying to get a weather download but it all gets a bit crap as I near the Azores. Yesterday's fcst was predicting no wind for the last 300 miles to Horta. The miserable outcome of this will be having to motor the last 300 miles. I can motor at about 3knots so it could be four wretched days and nights of motoring. I will be stir crazy at the end of that.
Still having problems getting pics through and I had a brilliant one of passing a large ship during the night with the moon in the background. When I get to Horta I will send a batch of pics.
All for now…..enjoy your bank holiday weekend.
Ben