11:49n 116:12w
Farr Gone Blog
Stuart Cannon
Wed 30 Mar 2011 23:07
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Resend of original post. New lat long format to get
position thingo going.
----- Original Message -----
From: Stuart
Cannon
To: farrgone blog
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:23 PM
Subject: 11;49.27n 116;12.24w end of day six. It was around 3.30pm that I left La
Cruze or 9.30pm UTC. So around the same time each day a position note and
distances are recorded. Positions are taken more often but its interesting to
compare days. I am hoping to get at least one 200 mile day and this boat is
capable of it, just need those trades to kick in and then I'll
probably miss these conditions so I'm happy just to sail
along.
Made a course change at 6pm UTC. Have now altered
course to 240 in pursuit of slightly more pressure to the west. The doldrums
were a little wide where I was heading. I'm fortunate in many ways but I must
thank Warren for keeping me posted on weather issues while I was having my
little computer meltdown. Waz has been a great help from the get go. Along
with King Cantu, this South African has been great to have around. Also
must confess to recieving weather information earlier from Will in Oz. Thanks to
all of you.
Its been overcast all day so the solar panels were
facing a losing battle. Fortunately the sky has just cleared and it looks like I
can wait till after dark to run the engine. I need to charge the batteries at
least once a day, if its cloudy twice. Unfortunately, everything to do with
boats is about money and compromise. I would have loved to have spent 10K on the
new Li ion batteries. Same as the ones in mobile phones. They are so much
better, lighter, longer lasting and easier to charge than the old lead acid
things. But then there would also be the
watermaker and the air conditioner and then another 10k in batteries
to power them. I know I digress but life does tend to revolve around power
consumption as in the end that translates to fuel and do I have enough? Of
course enough is how much? The trick would have been to have got a wind
generator. That would have taken care of the nights. Still with careful
management and slightly soft ice cream we bumble through.
Its starting to dawn that the equator crossing is
not that far away. I have to admit that I have no knowledge of the celebrations
you are supposed to do when crossing the equator but I have a bottle of
champagne given to me by Ruck Goldreyer, the guy who sold me the boat and who
did a very fine job, always being helpful. That champagne will be consumed (have
to keep the fridge cold even if only for that) as I cross. I welcome suggestions
for paying homage to King Neptune.
In the time I've been writing this the boat speed
has gone from 5 to 7 knots and spray is flying. Time to go trim some
sails.
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