Day 8 Thursday Morning and the sun is shining in mid-Atlantic
Synijinsky
Thu 24 Nov 2022 12:48
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15:48.0N 044:54.2W
Trip: 1178nm
Wind: E 5/6 Distance to go: 964nm
Well that wasn't as bad as we all feared, the wind never
got above 28kts (most of the time it was F5/6) and we were well reefed because
changing the sails would have meant sounding the alarm and waking up the
next person on shift early. We each did two 1.5 hour shift in total
darkness. They passed very quickly and you were soon back in your bunk
listening to the wind and waves as they rushed by before tiredness overtook
you.
I couldn't tell you whether it was a starlit as night
there isn't time to look up. For 90 minutes you stare at the compass
reading on the coach roof, the goal to keep the boat pointing 255 degrees
true. My rules are between 250 and 260 is the sweet spot but that
requires total concentration. 230 and we could do an unintended
gybe (it would be a crash-gybe but for the preventer) and it takes some time to
recover should the main sail get backed. 285 and we would
be off to America at an accelerated pace and the risk of a
broach.
If you let go of the wheel the boat would either broach
or gybe within 3-4 second of letting go. That is probably not dangerous
but not very pleasant for the crew or boat. So you aim for total
concentration - like playing Mario carts for an hour and a half without a
break between races. You can hear the waves coming up behind you but don't
know until you get to the top if you will head off left or right and how much
correction you will need to apply as you surf down the wave in total darkness.
There is a rumour going around the crew that the requirement for manual-steering
is a clever rouse by Skip because his sleeping cabin is now just as quiet as the
crew quarters up-front - without George moaning all night......
All very exhilarating and we can't wait to play the game
over and over again for the next six nights.
During the day we can see what is going on so as soon as
it it light the reefs get shaken out and the speed is back up to
7.5-8kts.
All safe. More this
afternoon.
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