ALL WELL
Elizabeth D of Gosforth
D R R/ C Abram
Tue 10 Jan 2012 16:33
Champagne Sailing… minus the Champagne!
Final stock up on papers, bread and English breakfasts all round and the
crew of SY Elizabeth D were ready to ‘Cross the Ditch’.
Joining us on our epic three week, 3000nm adventure are George Peacock (a
Tasmanian sailmaker) and Jason Toyne (a Devon shipwright). Clearly we have
quality crew but the rivalries between the southern Island state and a
southern English county are bound to be fierce. At present Devon 1 :
Tasmania 0 as a Devon flag flies proudly at the first spreader and young
George scrambles for his sewing kit in an attempt to fashion a Tasmanian
replica.
Faced with the prospect of no/patchy wind for the first week and a limited
fuel supply the first afternoon was spent cutting angles down the coast of
Fuerteventura searching for that elusive extra puff which kept the
spinnaker flying. Overnight the iron sail was on but by 3am Monday morning
the donk had gone off for good and *touch wood* we are still sailing in
roughly the right direction.
The seas are quiet and following and the boat is performing beautifully –
hitting 10-11 knots for a few hours under the big kite. However after a
wind change we have gone down to Full Genoa and Full Main and have cruised
along comfortably between 7 and 8 knots for nearly 24 hours.
All are safe and well albeit tired whilst bodies adjust to the watch
system. The sailing is nice, the food good and the sun is shining. Fingers
crossed the wind continues. Ill update again on Saturday.
p.s Just gybed to avoid a hole of no wind..was it the right choice??time
will tell!! COG 287' 7.6 Knts SOG