15th May Day 5 Bermuda - Azores 36:00.264N 053:30.500W

Whisper
Noel Dilly
Wed 15 May 2013 15:35
"Life on Starboard Tack"
 
Yesterday, I thought that we had out manouvered the storm, but we hadn't. Shortly after posting the blog, all hands were on deck kitted out in our foulies and harnesses.  W got soaked putting in a third reef on the main and reducing the headsail yet again.  We have been unable to sit out in the cockpit, the waves were long and high and confused on the surface, frequently dumping vast volumes of sea into the cockpit and anywhere else where it found it could seep through.  Fortunately the cockpit drains are large and the water disappeared quickly.  As the wind strengthened, even with our reduced sails, we were hurtling along at 6-9kts, I even witnessed 10kts briefly recorded by the GPS!   Our average speed for the day was just under 7kts and we covered 158km. 
 
For anybody wishing to take on the Atlantic Circuit, think carefully about the layout of your vessel before embarking on your passage!  My experience is that you are forever on starboard tack, a great advantage if you are racing, but we are not!  Our galley is on the starboard side, so trying to get objects out of the lockers and hold on is almost impossible.  I do have a strap so I can clip on for support, this is great when it is weighted, but when reaching into the cupboards the strap goes slack and slips down to behind my legs - dangerous when the boat gives a lurch because I can't then step back quickly to brace myself!  Trying to stir or serve food from a large saucepan on starboard tack is also impossible as the stove is gimbaled and therefore tips the saucepan away from the chef, so that it is impossible to see what you are doing, let alone get the ladle contents safely into a bowl.
 
My bunk is also on starboard in the forepeak, so are my cupboards.  I have lost count of how many times I have opened my clothes locker and the entire contents have delivered themselves in an unfolded heap on the floor at my feet!  Or other cupboards containing books, camera and other odds and sods, decide to open themselves and these contents are redistributed all over my berth. Then comes the difficult task of keeping balance, trying to stuff the items back in and close  the door before things hurl themselves back out at you with a vengeance! 
 
Our head is on the port side!  That sounds good, at least the contents of the cupboards here don't rush out to greet you.  However, on starboard tack, trying to wash your face in a downhill wash hand basin is trying to say the least.  So far I have avoided getting a blackeye or worse still - drowning!  Whisper also has a ventilator on deck to help keep the head fresh.  Now on starboard tack this ventilator lies on the downhill side of the coach roof.  When we are at sea I close it shut tight, but this does not stop the sea which has cascaded over the coachroof leaking down the ventilator and giving any unsuspecting seated occupant an impromptu shower!  Now, plastic lids on ceramic bowls tend when wet to slip about, so being seated on the throne, which is ever lurching, no matter how hard one may try will eventually slip out of position. Then the fun starts as the head will not flush unless it can make a vacuum seal.  There is nothing to do but kneel in front of it and try to realign the seat and tighten the wing nuts underneath the bracket in the hope that it can be fixed before the next shower from above gets you.  Due to the continual motion even the simplest of tasks take longer to achieve, so it is not surprising that the days are passing quickly.
 
Despite the difficulties of being on starboard, all is well onboard, save for the fact that it is damp.  The seas have moderated a little so there is less water flying over Whisper's decks and our speed has dropped to her usual 5-6kts. 
 
Young (now known as wrecked Sandro), is recovering and requires feeding!  He is dreaming of his first meal at home and plans to send a request with his requirements when we reach the Azores.  He also wishes to say 'thank you to Piero for motivating him').