Back in solitary!
Fleck
Sun 2 Jun 2013 16:56
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Sunday, 2nd June 2013
Position 7:48N 51:48W
Well, of course yesterday's wind died as soon
as my blog had gone out, so whatever change in my position you
may be able to discern has been entirely due to an overnight session with
the engine. My parole did not last long! This morning I have topped up our
main fuel tank with the last of my reserve 'jerry jugs' (as the Americans
call the various plastic diesel fuel containers that we keep for situations like
this) and I can do some more motoring now. The difficulty is to know where to
go. According to the yesterday's forcast I should be enjoying 15 kts of
wind right now, but we have 4.5 showing on the dial, and we are drifting at less
than 1 kt through the water. The weather is a bit brighter though: a squally
looking cloud to the north has not moved much since dawn, and I have sunshine
and a scattering of high cloud. Nothing seems to suggest that the weather is
going to do anything much any time soon. Anyway I'll get another forecast now,
and will no doubt put the engine back on when the flapping and rolling
threatens my long term sanity yet again. Heading north east seems most likely to
get me more wind eventually, as that is where the ITCZ edge should
be closest, and it is close to the heading that I need for the
Caribbean.
If this topic seems a bit tedious, and if I seem
self absorbed by it, then the tone of this diary entry has hit the spot
exactly! I do hope that others, who have crossed the zone ahead
of me, and to the east, have done so with more success, and that they are
now well on their way to their chosen destination; the Azores, or the Cape
Verde's. And I think of my progeny back home: the pregnant one, the
skipper, the 'you are only young in London once' one, and the poor schoolchild,
now come to the end of her half term holiday. The very best to you
all!
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