The Perfect Storm
Wishanger2
Brian Bonniwell and Claudine
Mon 15 Jun 2009 16:28
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37:01.86N 3:16.23E
Monday 15th, off Algers and all going
well.
Last night Steve (a scholar of that well known
culinary establishment - Bettie's of Harrogate) cooked the most fantastic
Coq au Vin served with Broccoli and Mashed potatoes (containing loads of
butter). He used 5 saucepans, 4 hobs and the oven, so there must have been
something else? We were tucking in to seconds when very very dark and
menacing clouds were observed ahead. Steve was left to
the washing up (on this boat, the cook does his own washing up - you
can see why!) and the remaining crew were mustered to reef all
sails.
Forked lightning traversing the night sky before
striking the water several miles ahead. In only a few minutes the
wind veered 90 degrees and the temperature of the air rocketed as if blown by a
giant hair drier. The strength increased until Wishanger II was
beating into the wind at 8.5 knots with all reefs set. A steady 36
knots gusting to 41. This lasted for about 30 minutes before a flat
calm, followed by more of the same for another 10 minutes. After this the
wind died down but not without leaving the boats metalwork almost too hot
to touch - a bit of an exaggeration, but really hot!
Today there has not been much wind and what there
is, is not favourable. We have been motoring in a sea, initially surfing
down waves from the west left over from the nights storm, but now a flat
sea with a long swell and an occasional wave which stops the boat. We have
settled into some cleaning and polishing, although it is almost too hot - any
excuse!
We are now half way along the Pirate Coast and
guess that as we have yet to see any, perhaps they must all take weekends
off ... lets hope today is a bank holiday in Algeria!
Brian, Steve, John and Malc
The Crew, SY Wishanger II
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