Blog 14. Heading for the Galapagos. O5.07.71N 81.59.58W
Alcedo
David Batten
Sun 14 Feb 2016 00:55
Friday, 12/02/16. Official start for Leg 3 was 11.00,but quite a few boats left early to try and advantage of the forecasted winds. It was a tight start line to the south of the anchorage, defined by a temporary buoy and a by small committee boat. There was plenty of jostling for position, so it was all quite exciting and a couple of the boats were over the line at the start time. We did rather well we thought for amateurs and set off just after "Spirit". Once the wind picked up at about 13.00, we had great sailing with full main and the Genoa boomed out and the staysail set to help channel the wind. We had great wind all night, ending up with a full Genoa and 2 reefs in the main and the skipper' wife, who had the best win, clocked speeds of to 13 knots and did 19 nm in 2 hours.
Saturday, 13/02/16, 15.00hrs. The wind has been gradually dying all morning and coming more from the East and now we having to motor assist on a course direct to San Chrisobal, some 607 nm to go. We can never sail in light airs dead downwind unless the sea is really calm as we have no coloured sails. We want to be in the Galapagos in good time so are pushing on with both engines at 2000 rpm using precious diesel at 4 litres an hour.
Maybe there will be more wind tonight, it is forecast.
Alcedo
PS. Overheard, Ship's Boy on handing over to Jane. "Just keep the thingamie". Jane seemed to understand exactly what was required.
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Sent from my iPad