Day 24, June 15, report from ET3, dictated via sat phone

 

Today was the hardest day so far after yesterday's lovely day.  The wind and rain steadily increased until, by 5 am, it was blowing a full gale.  We then had 11 hours of winds in the 35-38 knot region and a 4 hour spell in the middle with winds in the mid 40 knots.  I recorded one gust at over 50 knots.

 

At over 40 knots of wind, I learned that ET3, fully reefed and with virtually no jib is carrying too much sail.  Those middle four hours were very harrowing but we coped.  I have got to think of how to get all the main off and the storm jib on if over 40 knots is forecast again.

 

At 16:00 the wind dropped to Force 5 which we have had ever since, plus a very rough sea. I got little to eat and no sleep.  Now trying to catch up in a very uncomfortable motion.  As I write there is a straight line across the sky, horizon to horizon, with cloud on one side and clear blue on the other.  Still got 20 knots of wind.

 

ENDS.