Newport tanterlisingly close 40:45.4N 68:44.5W
Ellatrout3
Fri 25 Jun 2010 21:34
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Day 33 continued
After big Daddy gave me a soaking I thought I had
better finish the job. I said I would shave when the stowaway had fully
departed, well I've still got a lousy cough that wears me down but what the
heck! Winds were light so I got scissors and razor and shaved the
starboard side of my face in the morning, took pictures for my grand children
and did the port side after I had eaten in the afternoon. It took a surprisingly
long time but the BEARD HAS GONE.
The wind slowly increased giving me good speed in
the right direction to get round Nantuket shoals, a huge area of shallow
water and strong tides; a pretty dodgy place.
Day 34
Through the night the wind got much stronger and ET
started to slam and by freeing off we actually went faster to our
destination, it did not last long and I had to slow as her down as
the seas built up. Very galling. A difficult night, well behind with
sleep.
Morning brought a big temperature change, trousers,
jumper and jacket on, no midnight capers in this weather. wind had dropped and
gone aft I am struggling to keep her on course. in the end had to give up
and get some sleep. Fortunately did not lose much this time as there is a
big stream/tide pushing me SE and I am headed west. Heading 270 cog 235
winds very light.
On careful examination of my self steering wind
pilot I discovered the rudder blade had been knocked back 45 degrees from
vertical which explains why I have been having so much difficulty
recently. I blame them dolphins; anyway she is steering reliably now,
thank goodness.
While the winds are light I looked at my Autohelm
to see why it had blown the fuse. Sea water had obviously shorted the
power leads. Took it apart and cleaned it up and after a bit of reluctance
eventually got it going; which is a great relief as it will allow me to leave
the helm when I am motoring and laying anchor in Newport.
Nothing very exciting today just light winds,
strong South easterly tide and jolly cold.
Except of course lots of people are coming to
Newport to greet me which is absolutely super, I have had such
fantastic support from everybody I am rather overwhelmed by it. They
obviously know something about the rig that I don't, anyway I will keep nursing
as best I can, suffice to say the mast is still up!
Position above 22.30 bst
Roger/Dad/Poppa
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