Day 18
leeonsea
Lee Price
Thu 29 May 2008 18:01
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N38.37.50 W047.10.30
Wind SW F4-5 Heading 085T
At dawn, 0800, the wind droped off, god what a
shock. Less than 10kts. All canvas flying with the little bit of the wind on the
beam and the motor at tickover in gear again.
I made 110nm yesturday but have not toped the
'average' 120nm in the last 9 days. In the previous 9 days only 2 days made less
than 120nm. So if it's a journey of two halfs, this north Atlantic leg has been
a slow one. My desire of arriving in Horta inside 25 days is rapidly become
a hopeless fancy.
Last night, sleep was interupted by a 'vessal' at
first I thought it was a pair trawling, but the lights were wrong. In fact I
couldn't determine what it was, in the end I decided it was a fishing vessal and
that it had two bright flood lights on deck. I could work out, I hoped, that it
was traveling North/ South. I was obviously traveling West/ East but as you may
recall, my Nav light is miss reading after the storm a few days ago. I would
have given the impression I was traveling North/ South also.
So I tried to raise them on the radio, took a
bearing on them and plotted their approx position, called them up to let them
know what they we're seeing was wrong. 3 times I called but I got no responce.
There's the Rub', we should all work to the same rules, these guys neither
showed the right lights nor were keeping a listening watch on channel 16. It
should be an entirely safe place to be if these simple rules are observed, if
not, who knows? Eventually it seemed to turn and dropped back over the
horizon.
So this morning I decided that something must be
done about the Nav light, it being apparently the only source of comunication
with local fishing boats. I took out my Top Climber and prepared to assend the
mast. Alas I only got as high as the spreaders, with the weak wind only half
pressing on the sail, the boat was rolling somewhat and obviously the higher up
the mast the greater the movement. In the end I worked out I needed two hands to
hang onto the mast and two more to operate the Top Climber, so had I have
expended an increadible amount of energy reaching the top, I would have not been
able to carry out the repair.
It shall have to wait till Horta. It is the only
boat in over two weeks at sea that I have come across at night, in fact I've
only come across 5 boats in 18 days. So as much as I would like it to be right,
it will have to wait.
By 1300 this afternoon I suddenly had an urge to
pop the engine in neutral, sure enough the boat continued on it's speed and
heading without aid! Slowly we made progress under sail power alone. By 1600 I
was reefed and sailing on a beam reach in the right direction, only the second
time in the trip, at 8kts! the swell is light and although it continues to rain
on and off, it is not heavy. How long this magic will last I dare't say but for
the time being it's a fabulas bit of perfect sailing, totally
splendid.
Could I make up what I've lost? My nerves are
shattered, I wont be encouraged, just happy to take the good as it comes and
endure the bad as it happens.
L.
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