BECALMED AGAIN
Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Sat 14 Jun 2008 15:50
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44:41.40N 33:21.20W
Noon-noon run: 120 miles
The excellent wind we had been enjoying yesterday
suddenly died at 2130, and for the entire night we were without any significant
wind. So the iron donkey was brought into service again, and at 1500RPM
gave us about 4 kts through the water. We enjoyed an additional
helping hand from the North Atlantic Current, which at this position is morphing
into the Azores Current - now setting us in a ESE direction. It all
helps.
Aroung 0900 this morning there was a zephyr from
the West, so we set the asymmetric and gave the engine a rest. This gave
us about 3kts through the water, but by midday the wind had faded once
more. So right now we are again donking through a rather confused
sea. According to the GRIB synopsis, there is wind all around us at a
radius of about 150 miles - hence the confused sea no doubt - but we have a
strong suspicion that these conditions are going to remain with us until Sunday
night. Tedious!
The tinned meals are now featuring daily, and
actually turning out to be not too bad at all. The master chef does her
majic, and last night's chilli concarne was voted 'excellent' by
all. In between stowing the asymmetric (which dumped
itself in the water just as it was about to be lowered - seems the snap shackle
opened itself when it hit the forestay) and making the next load of bread (which
has once agian risen nicely), Sarah is having a good spring clean of various
compartments.
In the 'calm' of today we are rolling +/- 20 deg -
but at least the sun is shining! We have witnessed a large pod of dolphins
cirlcing lazily, accompanied by numerous fairly large sea birds (wish we could
identify them) - we get the impression they are mutually feeding on the same
shoal of fish. This makes us in two minds whether to stream our own line -
we do not want to catch a dolphin!
Satellite connectivity is very tenuous, so doubt we
will be able to send any phots for the next few days.
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