Yesterday's repeated

True Colours
James Scrimshaw
Thu 12 Dec 2013 10:11
Not sure if yesterday’s blog went OK – the rolly sea meant the antenna probably scanned half of Mr Iridium’s satellites in 2 seconds and none for more than half a second.  In case not – here is it repeated.
 
Position 14:45.00N 044:50.00W
 
A few milestones reached today:  2/3 of distance covered;  1/2 of distance from Cap Verdi to St Lucia;  under 1000 Nm to go and fastest day’s run  - 173 Nm.
But actually not a pleasant day.  Last night the wind progressively built, and we threw first one then the second reef into the main.  At this we were certainly not overpowered - the wind occasionally reached 24 knots – but the confused sea made life fairly unpleasant – so much so that we opted to take the pole down and move to a broad reach rather than run deeper with less stability, even though it was taking us south of our required heading.  For all of the morning the sea and wind both built, with winds in excess of 30 knots and the sea defeating all attempts to use the autohelm – it just could not respond to the unpredictable wave pattern.  Consequently Toby re-wrote the watch pattern so that there were two people on at any time at night;  4 hours on, 4 o is not ideal, but with the winds predicted to stay until our arrival it is the safe option.
 
Ironically, in the last half hour the wind has abated somewhat, we have reverted to poled out genoa, and although still rolly polly, it is better that it was, and once again we are more or less directly on the rhumb line to St Lucia.
 
Is it safe to start making prediction as to arrival time?  All the crew were out on their sweepstake guesses, with Nadine the winner as she had the latest date. Our software currently says 17.00 on 16/12, but if the speed drops to 7 kn then it becomes 17/12, and 6 kn 18/12....  Skippers guess?  am on 17th.