Position Update N29:36.20 W45:44.46
PASSEPARTOUT
Christopher & Nirit Slaney
Fri 4 May 2012 21:25
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A record breaking twenty-four hours; 155 NM run and 993
NM to go before landfall in the Azores.
The weather has been lively, last night we ran along
with two reefs in the main, no headsail, and wind gusting up ton 30 knots. Today
the wind has abated slightly but we have a huge swell from the SSW which makes
steering a challenge. I think I was the only one to get more than a few minutes
sleep last night.
Random events and the probability
thereof.
Too much time on my hands, hours at the wheel cut off
from everyone else by the earphones of the iPOD and I've been pondering a couple
of unusual events. On Thursday May 3rd we saw seven ships cross our path, all
heading west. Seven in one day after not seeing a single vessel for three days
and only three others since leaving St Maarten. Seven ships; two oil tankers,
one container ship, three bulkers and one too far away to have its type
determined. All were heading in the opposite direction along latitude
30 north which would suggest their destinations are Savannah GA,
Charleston SC or Port Everglades FL. Seven ships on the same
patch of ocean on the same day, and on the same patch of ocean as Passsepartout,
seems to be an unlikely coincidence. Imagine how many variables in business
decisions, voyage scheduling, unexpected delays in loading at Hamburg,
Marseilles or Bonny island, weather factors all had to coincide like an
alignment of heavenly bodies to bring us all to within a few miles of each other
in the middle of the Atlantic. It doesn't seem to fit any outcome of expected
probability or standard deviation.
And then there was the fish. During an inspection of the
rigging this morning I found a large flying fish dead on the deck. Yes, there
are plenty of flying fish spotted flitting across the waves at certain
times of the day. But what is the chance of one taking a short flight, a visit
into the atmosphere of the birds and mammals if you like, and out of all
the tens of thousands of square kilometres of ocean makes a crash landing
on our deck? If the same fish had hit any of the seven merchant
ships he might have ended up with a headache but survived. Only an
incredibly unlucky encounter with our small sailing boat sealed his fate. It
seems I would have a better chance at winning the Powerball
Lottery.
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