Passage to Madeira - Day 2
Stargazer of Southampton
Susie and Adam (both think they are skipper)
Wed 29 Sep 2010 10:39
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29:09.10,
35.45.60N 13:09.78W Yesterday there wasn't very much wind but we
managed to sail all but about 5 hours when the engine had to go on.
The morning was bright blue sky and sunshine - after I went to sleep for a bit
leaving Adam in charge, I returned to see that he had broken the weather and
there were dark clouds and rain looming on the horizon just in time for my stint
behind the wheel. It was only drizzle but very wet! - luckily
through it in a couple of hours.
Lots of ships yesterday after seeing virtually none
on the first day - out here they are going in any old direction, not organised
into lanes or anything - there was only one that we had to change our course to
ensure we avoided though. The visibility is so clear that at night you can
see the ships from a very long way off - there is nothing on the horizon then
suddenly there are lights. . . so you have a very long time to consider
whether it is coming towards you, at least it makes time go past
overnight. A lot of the ships were so far off the radar wasn't seeing them
even at 16 mile radius. At least there are no fishing boats (touch wood)
out here to menace us.
The sea has turned an amazing colour - it is really
clear like biscay but dark blue, even when the sky is clouded the sea is blue -
saw a few dolphins yesterday and you could see them dive a long way under the
water where they too looked blue as well. We noticed today that it is a
lot warmer - the air and the sea - but we are now level with Morocco so it
should be!
I have found the almost ideal night time sleeping
place - on the cockpit floor on cushions and with blanket, I still find it quite
hard to sleep especially with the swell which makes things creak and sails flap
- but it is much quieter in the cockpit and the air is warm (a bit too warm in
the boat sometimes).
Before the moon came up last night the stars were
really bright - we had the milky way over the top of the mast as you
looked.
Bit more wind today but at least it is in the right
direction, although some of the waves aren't complying and hit us from the side
when tea and things go everywhere.
My task today is to make bread and chocolate
brownies which I am about to start.
We're over half way to
Madeira!
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