Day 18 Lazy Dawn's Ocean Passage 8/12
Lazydawn
Thu 8 Dec 2005 18:44
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Well, we're almost in the last 24 hours to go and
have stayed under genoa since dousing the parasailor yesterday.While it has cost
us some miles, we feel safety is paramount and the conditions are just too wild
for a crew of three to manage the kite should it need to be dropped
quickly. Unfortunately this means some nearby boats have slipped away and we
have had to relinquish our 40.7 line honours position....for now!
Everyone is now looking forward to arriving and
psyched up that tonight is the last night in the washing machine. Throughout the night the wind was 20-25 gusting 30+kts
as we ran down the wind directly to St. Lucia. We're still finding it
difficult to sleep in the confused seas as we get thrown about in the berths and
the change in sea and sail plan has introduced new noises from
halyard, gooseneck, kicker, sail, pots and pans, etc., which are magnified many
times in the boat as it acts like a natural drum. Trying to maintain a
stable sleeping position on the berth is a full gym workout, as muscles are
working all night to try and prevent the motion of the boat bouncing
you from side to side in the cabin. We get up feeling ready for 8
hours sleep!
Anyhow, a quietish day on Lazy, as befits her
name, was what the doctor ordered, so that's what we've done. Chris was also
feeling groggy from his exertions yesterday and was having some problems with
his ears and sinuses, so the parasailor stays bagged and we run under genoa
averaging nearly 8kts with peaks of 12.9 (that we've noticed RJ!). Thankfully
Chris is feeling better now after some medication and has even dared suggest we
change the genoa for the parasailor! We protest and Chris busies himself filling
in the arrival declaration, ARC questionnaire and customs form.
The weather forecast said waves of 6-8ft,
occasionally 8-10ft. As usual, the forecast is not right. Some massive
rollers are developing now and we've seen waves at least 20ft peak to trough
just feet from our stern. The horizon around us ranges from about 5 miles down
to 30' when the whole boat is in a trough and skyscraper like walls of
water surround us with breaking tops and spume heading straight at us.
Fortunately Antony the Autohelm is coping, but looking out through the cockpit
from below is quite an amazing sight as the boat yaws, rolls and pitches the sky
and sea whip rapidly round 60 degrees and up and down 30 degrees, much like one
of the stomach churning rides you find at a fair. We normally cope with the
motion now, but sometimes not. Earlier today Chris lost his balance and was
thrown across the cabin from chart table to galley where he squashed Jo into the
cooker and crushed her shoulder. Jo's fine now, though her shoulder was
complaining at the time and relocated itself with a loud click!
We're now convincing ourselves the constant
movement is excellent training for our skiing balance, as we compare it to
the motion down a bumps run where one is constantly adjusting one's
position to keep balance and stay on top of ones skis.
The waves themselves are quite mesmerising to watch
and allow one's imagination to run riot. That is until a square one hits
the boat in the aft quarter, breaks and sprays the whole of the cockpit
with sea water soaking anyone foolish enough to not be keeping a good
lookout. Sea water drenched clothes are not much fun as they itch uncomfortably
and Chris and Peter are running out of dry underwear! Enough for Peter to do
some handwashing yesterday of his own and Chris's!
The good news is that Chris and Jo have kissed and
made up, the champagne is now in the fridge, ready for the finish line
celebrations and Jo is making crepes for the last supper!
What, I hear? Time for the
parasailor....
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