Day 8 - Gales
Sawsealady
David Moore
Sun 3 Dec 2006 12:32
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"21:05.097N 29:57.733W"
Day 8 -
Gales
A very different 24 hours.
Continuous force 5 to 6 with bursts of gale
8.
We are still running with main tied down with a preventer
to stop an accidental gybe and the headsail boomed out. However we have two reefs in the main and a heavily furled jib. About
the same sail area as a Wayfarer dinghy. During the night we were going over 9
knots but unfortunatly broke the top batten. We saw a squall appraching in the early morning ( when they hit
the wind speed increases by a factor of three !). We dropped in the main
and only had a headsail about the size of a Wayfarer jib. We were still
doing 5/6 knot. The squall passed to on side so we rehoisted the main with
three reefs.
Whilst at the helm at 6.30 this morning, THe watch below
were wakened by a scream - Philippa had a flying fish in her lap while
on the wheel. They are abundant, and pretty nippy over the water. The wind
speed has not been the cause for concern, it has been the large,
confused seas. It makes you appreciate how brave Southern Ocean Sailors
are. We have the luxury of the moon for most of the night. The graveyard
watch '3am - 6am', aka - The Killer, has been especially tiring
particularly during in the last hour. It makes you feel more jaded than a
Rolling Stone daughter. Cream crackered. This because it is so
much more difficult to steer a boat in the dark - with all the damgers that
come with that difficulty.
Remember there is more information on general news on the
Arc website.
FoR example one of the yachts fouNd a boat load of
refugees and was asked to standby them until the Spanish navy arrived
!
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