Frdiay and the expected near gale arrives

Lady Stardust Faro-Portugal to Barcelona - 2010
Paul Collister
Tue 4 Aug 2009 14:54

POS 48:07.7N 9:12.8W
 
Expected F7 and got it, 25 knots on the nose all day, very hard going, reef in main and 50% genoa, we need a wind shift.
Tacking about 20miles on each leg, learning a lot bout the boat, have dumped the genoa as I can point higher on staysail than furled genoa, shape of sail is much finer on staysail, also got more control.
The boat is taking a massive hammering, sometimes sounds and feel like we are crashing into concrete blocks, but all is fine, both feeling good now. No chance of doing much in the galley today other than heat up some pasties we bought in the Kinsale farmers market, a bargain at €25 each.
P