Daily Log 03.06.07
Wing and a Prayer
Joy Hughes
Sun 3 Jun 2007 16:17
Wind: 15-18kts SW
Weather: Cloudy, warm.
Distance Travelled: on the log 121, Total on the log 984 miles, total over
the ground is 1,144 miles. Dist to go 1,198 miles
Hi Everybody
As the gales of the last 36 hours died away, they left behind some big but
consistent waves. The auto-helm was doing a stirling job steering the boat
over them and at one point hit 8kts surfing dwn the face of one.
Wiggy rose the challenge immediately and took manual control, determined to
go one better than the auto-helm. Within minutes he was punching the air as
8.5kts flickered up on the boat speed. He then announced he was going for
9kts but, as the target speed continued to evade him, he was forced to reach
for the Helmsman's Book Of Excuses Ancient & Modern. Page 17 provided the
perfect answer. "I'm using the wrong wheel," he declared, switching from the
starboard to port wheel. Still 9kts continued to be elusive, so back he went
to the Book, which supplied another pearl. "These waves just aren't steep
enough," he bemoaned, switching back to the auto-helm.
After a night of light winds, torrential rain and the odd flash of
lightening, we are now making good progress aiming straight at the Azores
under spinnaker and making our best COGs of the trip.
The wind is currently constant at 15kts from the SW, which is at variance
with the grib file predications and we've got our fingers crossed that it
holds up. Only the fish refuse to play ball.
Yours, Aye
Andy