Tiffin on the Noggin 21:54.10N 019:30.14
Shaya Moya
Don & Susan Smyth
Wed 24 Nov 2010 16:11
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I Say old chap.
Who on earth said the Atlantic was going to be
difficult? I finished my watch at 22.00 yesterday
As today's cook, I awoke after a proper
8 hours kip to the sound of the engine running, the wind had died completely
during the night. Our weather briefing chappy was suggesting we wouldn't see
much different for the next 24 hours. As intrepid sailors we still elected to
put up the big spinny and harden up to wind to improve our boat speed. For a
short while we managed about 5.5 knots. Unfortunately this success was short
lived as our speed faded to well below 4 knots. If we were not worried about
 Calm calm
calm calm
arriving in St Lucia sometime before next February,
we could have lived with it. Anyway having
decided to switch on the engine and probably stick with it for the next 12 hours
or so, the challenges of life on board change. Navigation consists of pointing
in the right direction and pressing the autopilot button. The major strategic
decisions consist of whether to have tea or coffee and what time lunch will be.
 Lunch on a stionary horizontal table,
luxury!
Having enjoyed a Mediterranean style lunch (which
all stayed on the table to make a change), several of the crew are reclining on
the poop deck, Reece is fishing again, the orders from the purser are for Tuna
this time. The Skipper and Tony are busy "fettling" with various bits of the
yacht. We have had problems with a new man overboard system Don had fitted
especially for the trip, the system keeps false alarming and alarming it b....y
well is, going off 15 times each night. The danger is that crew stop taking any
notice of it at all, which I think we mostly had. It seems to be fixed now, so
fingers crossed.
My challenge today, beyond staying awake is to
rustle up a tasty meal to rival the fresh Hahi Mahi expertly cooked by chef Tony
yesterday. Highlight this morning, another pod of dolphins surfing our bow wave,
they were small grey speckled creatures (Latin Name, smallus greyus
specledanus dolphini). No pics again, light this time but no one wanted to leave
and get a camera. Jane was doing her ablutions so missed them again. I'm
sure she wouldn't believe us if Tony hadn't been there to witness
it. There will be plenty of other opportunities, I'm sure.
Anyway, I'm off for the afternoon constitution
around the poop deck and be back for cucumber sandwiches and afternoon Cha on
the sundeck.
Ta ta for now, First Mate Dave and the
intrepid sailors aboard the cruise ship Shaya Moya
 Pod of Whales spotted yesterday.
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