From: svjenny

Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2014 8:28 PM

To: svjenny {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com ; rmagnus10 {CHANGE TO AT} gmail {DOT} com ; jgane77 {CHANGE TO AT} hotmail {DOT} com

Subject: Atlantic crossing 27:02.89 N 19:P30.69W

Dear Family and Friends,

 

It is with considerable difficulty that I write this, at this moment the sea state is rough with 2-4m swell and winds of 30 knots, great for progress, we are making 6-7 knots with one smallish downwind sail but the movement is full of sudden lurches. Poor Alan had to change the freezer thermostat in this heaving sea as the intermittent fault has reoccurred, with half the freezer defrosted. Needless to say he didn’t feel very well afterwards. After the last fault I did buy those heinous items tinned meatballs and tinned ham as a precaution and I may yet be using them!

 

Unfortunately I am also a casualty of the heaving seas having poured boiling water over my hand during one of those lurches and managing to send coffee over the nav table 4’ away. I was most worried about the computer in the way, our means of communicating, being wet so rushed to sort that out first before going to our very well stocked medical box for yet another burns dressing. Once again I am thankful for the thorough kit provided by John at Hutton’s.

 

Following the blog yesterday, I checked the bilges and found a lot of water down there, Alan and James cleared 2.5 buckets from 2 sections, we have yet to trace the source. The joys of boating!

 

We had a good sail yesterday, passing the snow capped volcanic peak of Tenerife during the day and to the east of El Hierro during my 12-3am watch. The moon was up and with steady winds we were doing well, 154 miles from noon to noon. El Hierro is a lesser known Canary island, at its sw most extent. At night we could see the whole of the eastern coast, from its northern tip to the southern corner, it is quite small rising steadily to a central mount. Lights at sea level defined the 2 small harbours whilst clusters of lights towards the higher ground spoke of perhaps a town and a few small villages. One instinctively fills in the blanks and in my imagination I pictured cliffs between sea level and the lights, First light this morning confirmed that the southern shores were indeed like this. As we sped away to the sw Alan set the way mark for Antigua,  a rhum line of 2407 miles as I write. However we are likely to sail more than that as our course depending on the wind will be sw to pick up the easterly trade winds. With an estimated average of 6 knots this will take between 17-19 days more sailing. Alan and James changed the sails for downwind sailing rig, in the lee of Tenerife, which was a good move as we certainly wouldn’t have done so in todays seas.

 

I have yet to appreciate the 360 degrees of sea panorama as we have had an eventful day of dramas! The motion is tiring and every trip below a struggle to stay on our feet. We have changed course to go more down wind to improve the motion, it will add more miles but is a blessed relief!

 

I have been reading up about the Caribbean and malaria. Now when I took medical advice I dont think malaria was mentioned for the Caribbean could you look up the details and write to us on svjenny {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com please. I have the medication I just need to know whether to start taking it just before we arrive. Very grateful thanks for your help if you do find anything.

 

All our best, hug those comfortable beds and think of us wedged to avoid crashing about!

 

Lynne, Alan and James