The final leg 12:48.9N 58:58.7W
Sonar
Ray
Mon 7 Dec 2009 13:55
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Several days ago we passed our 2,000nm since
leaving Tenerife and I thought then would be a good time to produce voyage
update but somehow the time slipped by and we are now barely a days sail from
our destination. Its an update now or a retrospective tomorrow. The chart
plotter is now telling us we have 170 miles to go and we have covered 2,532nm
since leaving Tenerife
So far we have been at sea for 20 days or rather 20
nights as its the nights that are the real milestones that stick most vividly in
the memory. I have done the first shift from 10pm- 1am and 7am-until everyone
gets up. Long hours are spent just watching starlit waves stroll past or,
towards the end of the trip, moonlit waves. Things which would not seem at all
bothersome during daylight become more ominous and threatening at night when
events are more difficult to anticipate and there is nobody around to share ones
thoughts with. This has been particularly true of the last few nights when we
have been overtaken by rain squalls coming up astern on my watch. These have
been relatively small - pnly 2 or 3 miles across, but two which came through
last night caught us fair and square. First the wind gets gustier then
tropical rain arrives usualy at the same time as the wind. The first time
this happened I was not prepared for the sudden build of the wind to about
double the speed we had been used to (from 15 to 30kts). As we are traveling
dead down wind this results in a big surge of boat speed but not much heeling
thankfully. We then go as if rocket powered for 5, 10 or 15 mins with the sea
fizzing past the hull before the wind dies back again to where it was. If one
hasn't anticipated the effect (like the first time) then there is a white
knuckle period watching the wind indicator build through the 20kt range not
knowing where it is going to top out. Once it hits there is no chance
of reefing-in the sails with that much pressure on them. It feels like
charging down hill with no brakes and only a very tiny steering wheel - or
perhaps more accuarately (for those who have tried it) like planing dead
downwind in force 5 in a Laser. One squall last night saw the wind guage touch
34kts before it steadied back.
I am sure the memories which will last longest will
be those associated with the social life on board. There has of course been much
cockpit banter, lots of highbrow pholosophy discussed and many of the worlds
problems solved with really simple obvious solutions such as 'change the
government'. Some have even lead to very positive answers. For instance 'How
many angels can stand on the head of a needle?' has a very positive answer - 42
of course. We know that's right because one of us had read it in a book. With 3
very old, wise and highly educated men on board each with a rich experience of
life there has been a lot of very deep and meaningful discussions. For instance
here is a snippet of conversation between John and Ted overheard in the cockpit
while I was brewing some tea...
John: I spy with my little eye something begining
with 'W'.
Ted: Water!
John: Hey that's cheating. You are supposed to have
at least 2 or 3 guesses before you get it right.
Ted: Oh. Alright then. Its my turn now. I spy with
my little eye something beging with 'W'.
John: Waves!
Ted: Now who's calling me a cheat! You did it
yourself. I think I should have another go...
John: Yeah. I suppose there's no point in doing
this if we both keep cheating.
...
and so it goes on.
Not long now before we can all have a nice wash,
tuck ourselves into a stationary bed and wait to be transported to the local
lunatic asylum.
Ray aboard Sonar
7 December 2009
Lat:12d 48.9'N Lon:58d 58.6'W
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