Fast Sail!
Flyer of Lorne
Dave Sturrock
Fri 5 Dec 2008 10:11
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14:47.64N 38:46.37W
Thursday 04 December, Days Run 164NM
This is a shortened blog report today as we have
had 35knots of wind overnight and are currently sailing with 2 reefs in the main
and genoa. Conditions are not conducive to typing and my laptop had a narrow
escape around 4am when a breaking wave crashed into the cockpit and down below,
luckily no real damage done and the washboards are now firmly in
place!
A much better day of fresher winds which
backed from ESE to NE which has allowed us to sail straightg along our rhumb
line courfse of 288 degrees.This meant we covered 164NM in this period and
should cover even more ground today. The forecast is now indicating NE winds
filling in across the board which should mean a fast finish to our crossing with
a current ETA of Friday 12 December at St Lucia.
We had our No. 2 Gennaker hoisted for around
10hours before 25knot winds forced us to douse this powerful sail at 21:00hrs.
The foredeck crew were seen waiting in their "riot gear" ready tro quell the
beast at a moment's notice. We soon had the reefs in as the wind rose to
F8 for a time whipping up the seas.
Chieffy's watch handovers to me are now known
officially as "broach o' clock" as on the last 2 evenings that is exactly what
happened each time I came on deck.
We continue to receive many messages of support
which we all very much enjoy reading so please keep sending these.
Dave Sturrock
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