17.33.043N 58.43.36W
JENNY
Alan Franklin/ Lynne Gane
Fri 7 Dec 2007 20:10
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Last night was the worse yet for squalls they came
thick and fast with a vengeance ,in fact one big mean blighter caught me
completely un- aware .Had the toe rail in the water 32knts of wind from 15 knts
and everybody was up to reef down(take the sails in ),our boat speed was well
over 9knts.It was fun.
We have a sort of rule when putting on more sail
have a cup of tea first ,that normally takes about 20 minutes during which time
the wind will decide what is going to do.Last night was no exception wind came
up 20/21 knts boat speed 8 + knts wind speed dropped boat speed 4.5 knts- cup of
tea time - boat speed still 4.5knts ,more sail 15 minutes later all hell breaks
lose with 30knts + of wind + torrential rain all up all soaked shorten sail
boat under control ,tidy up the lines off watch back to bed.As I have said many
times crafty little blighters these squalls,by the way I turned the radar off
which shows the squalls 10 minutes earlier to save the battery.
Tonight we go into battle fully charged and fully
armed .With only 170nm to go we want to push on tonight so its double up on the
watches that means 2 people on watch at a time makes it easier to reef down
batteries fully charged radar in operation.Let them try to get one over on us
now.
No fishing today have concentrated on
speed.
A number of boats are beginning to suffer gear
failures watermakers ,generators ,alternators it has been a long journey with
all these items perhaps being stretched a bit it takes its toll Anyway I prepare
myself for the night ahead .Tomorrow we will be in Antigua
somewhere.
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