Day 11: Wind, 1st Squall and Rainbows
Quesera
Wed 3 Dec 2008 13:20
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We are now through the '1700' to go milestone and
in the rain! What a change in conditions. The wind was around 15 kts all night
and we averaged over 6.5 kts making up some lost time. Carried the spinnaker all
night. It was an amazing sensation going like a train (relative to what we have
mainly experienced) in the dark in shorts and a T shirt - one
doesn't do that in UK!
This morning the wind started to get up and with
the dawn I could see potentially squally clouds coming at us from ESE
(see pic). So we did our pre breakfast routine of sail changing (spinnaker down,
jib out). Just as well as the cloud soon thickened and we felt our first gust
and the rain came in (see next pic). The wind has now (miday) settled down again
so we have the spinnaker up and are tracking reasonably well in the
drizzle.
The forecast is for variable weather with squalls
and rain. "It is likely to be similar to sailing in the doldrums with
light wind and strong squalls"(CT) so It could get humid and
boring/exciting.
Wednesday was supposed to mark our half way
point. But, given we have dog-legged the route to get the best we can of the
weather, our total distance is around 2900 miles, so with luck halfway will
have to wait for a couple of days.
Jock had his piece yesterday and Mike wants to
say Hi. to Pat, Emma, Edward and all at Sutton Harbour Group.
 A lovely dawn behind us, but squally
weather coming at
us
Same view, 45 mins or so later! Just as well we were prepared
PS Jock heard about Mike's message to family and
friends, so wants say Hi to Sue, Angus, Calum and Douglas!
Which means I want to say Hi to My Family (too many
to list!) and Uncle Tom Cobbly and all..............and our fans at Ernst &
Young!
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