Day 4 - Squid and spinnakers
A year afloat: to the Caribbean and back
Sam and Alex Fortescue
Thu 25 Nov 2010 13:57
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22:36.03N
018:55.38W
Spinnaker mania has seized the crew. In anything
less than 18 knots, there is an irrestible clamour aboard to stick up the chute
and squeeze a few extra miles out of the day. Mind you, it seems to be paying
off, with two or three yachts being reeled in and overtaken during the
night.
There is still a buzz of VHF chat in the backgroun,
indicating that we're still in range of boats like Wind of Gothenburg, who we
met in Nazare, Portugal, Triple D and Let it Be - all larger vessels, we're
delighted to report. Chat from one of the boats that is receiving £300 worth of
weather routing indicates that the advice from the meteorologists is to head for
the NW-most Cape Verde island and switch on the donk. Valuable advice indeed for
a sailing race.
We've been following a tactic of headind around 220
degrees - plum at the top-right hand Cape Verde. Some boats are going east about
in order to find the trades. We'll see when we get there. What we do know is
that a big depression is pushing the trade winds south of 15N, which is a long
way past the traditional 'turn right at 20N' view.
We're getting through or fruit and veg before it
turns to puree and still waiting for a fish. an unfortunate cuttle fish washed
up ond eck during the night, which I grilled but haven't yet dared to eat. The
water maker is keeping us well supplied with water that tastes a lot better than
Canaries marina supplies, and the sun is keeping the batteries topped up during
the heat of the day. We were ambushed a moment ago by a troupe of dolphins and
VHF reports from distant Wanako suggest they have been swimming with dolpins.
Also heard were claims of catching a 7.5kg Mahi-Mahi. We have had no such luck
to date, despite losing a lure during the 8-knot dash of two nights
ago.
Crew morale is good and weather is sublime. We're
all whistling for a wind. Meanwhile, thank you to readers who have been sending
in their advice and best wishes. Keep us informed of how were doing in our
division... |