Heading South
Digiboat's "Product Testing"
Simon Blundell
Sun 29 Sep 2013 02:16
34:37.33N 010:23.56W
0130z
29/9
Depressing several
hours as the wind kept bending usN and the UK looked to be the next port of
call... finally we got an angle to tack and been heading S since. Breeze
moderated to mostly 15-20kn during the day, then dropped to the predicted 12-15
tonight. Now sailing due S with full genny and main, and half mizzen at around
7.5 kn.
Breeze expected to
drop and get variable tomorrow so may be some motoring ahead and smooth seas
which I'm sure Julie and Jed will enjoy. Julie reappeared earlier today and was
functioning normally but got a bit unsettled again after a stint in the galley.
Jed's been horizontal for a few days now but I think it's partly been withdrawal
symptoms from being away from Google as much as the boat's
motion.
With moderating
conditions today, and the sloppy seas getting a bit more regular we could get
the boat back in order. It was looking very much like a train wreck after the
last few days of pounding and heeling, along with linmited crew left
fuinctioning to take care of the "housekeeping". Actually lucky we had to tack
as the fridges had become almost unusable. Being on the uphill side, and stacked
with no regard for heeling, opening the door more than an inch dumped all the
contents onto you and the floor, it's easy to imagine the quickly shove
everything back in and close the door technique used after that. Same problem
with the quick snack cupboard which also had 45 packets of spagetti in it,
which have now spent the last few days piled on the stbd side
floor.
Re-stocking and
re-packing and cleaning have been done today with a far greater appreciation of
our new living environment. Which Rob summed up as like taking your house
off-roading on a steep hill.
Just before sunset
we had an hour's entertainment watching the monkeys play the "catch the halyard"
game after one of the unused kite halyards had broken loose of its tie-down
strap and Robbo and Ryan took turns trying to snag it with the boat hook
whenever it came vaguely in reach. Quite a funny spectator sport too, so may
break this one out again if the crew ever get a chance to be
bored.
Otherwise, no fish,
plenty to do fixing and modifying systems in the bilges, much cleaning and
sleeping, small amounts of time for lounging, and all waiting to get S enough
for some more warmth on deck.
SJB