One More Day.............and a bit 51:29.2N 07:41.0W
Ellatrout3
Mon 20 Jun 2016 22:09
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We ran overnight before the wind with just the
full jib flying but no mainsail. When I awoke the mainsail was needed so I
put all my wet gear on and climbed on deck. In the process of hosting the
mainsail, which is a bit involved when you are running before the wind
because you have to turn the ship into the wind before the sail will go up the
mast, I noticed something strange on the horizon dead ahead. A look
through the binoculars told me it was an oil rig. I've never seen one of these
before up close. Coming from the west with the sun rising ahead it was just a
silhouette and would have made a poor picture so I altered course to pass on the
eastern side. As i approached I could see there were two of them and I would
pass between them. Not so! I was called up by a very curtious Irishman on MV
Pearl pointing out that I was entering a restricted area and should stay
clear; which I did. It's a pity I can't send pictures because these things are
quite something from a ittle boat; great structures sticking up out of th sea in
the middle of nowhere so it seems. It is a good thing I awoke when I did as they
were dead ahead, another couple of hours and it would have been a close run
thing although I suspect Pearl would have intercepted me before I hit. I don't
know why these things don't give off an AIS signal? In fact they weren't oil
rigs they weere gas rigs on the 'kinsale Gas Field'.
In the heavy weather the previous evening the
steering arm of the electric auto pilot broke so I'm back to the old fashion way
of steering by/with the wind. It means if the wind disappears I can only motor
if I sit at the helm and steer. It is also a problem when I arrive at
Pwllheli with nothing to keep her on course while I take the sails down and do
various other tasks necessary to enter port. The only consolation is it was new
last year so should be covered by guarantee.
John Hope, a friend from the marina and a Jester,
has been feeding me daily weather information. Yesterday he warned me of some
abandoned fishing gear in my area. When I plotted it's position it right on my
line of approach by Coningbeg South Cardinal navigation bouys which I use
navigating around SE ireland
John's warning - NAV WARNING (NAVTEX)
OA75 WZ734 IRELAND SE COAST APPROACHES TO ST GEORGES CHANNEL GREAT SALTEE SOUTHWARDS ABANDONED FISHING GEAR IN VICINITY 51N59.68 6W34.97 2x9 metre beams with nets about 412 metres of wire attached to each MARKED BY RED & GREEN BUOYS I gave it a mile clearance and it was getting dark
so I didn't see the bouys.
Finally after all the bad weather it has been a
beautiful sailing day today. The sun has shone all day, there has been a good
free wind and I wore my shorts for the first time since leaving Praia. It is
also the first day I haven't had to put my waterproofs on, lets hope it an
omen for my home coming.
It's 11 o'clock Monday night and as I write I
have 91 miles to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Poppa/Dad/Roger
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