DAY 12 - doldrums

Ugcxatlantic
Tue 2 Dec 2008 10:55
17:38.70N 36:49.20W
Since Friday we have been surrounded by
low pressure centers, and we still are. When one drift away the next
one is lining up with the consequence that it completely disturbs the
"normal" wind pattern in the area, a trade wind which we in fact can read
about in the wind reports appearing east of us as well as in the west. Last
night we took some heavy rain showers. But the problem is the
missing or/and unstable wind. The only reason we are able to keep up a
triple digit nm per day (>100 nm) is the local temporary winds
that appears for a few hours and then later die out again.
We manage every bit of air movements as best as can, it provides good sail
training given the current circumstances. Yesterday we passed a lonely sea turtle, could be 1 meter in diameter I guess. Not sure
if it's correct to say we 'passed' it, - we both were 'paddled
along' with the same speed....
Fishing has been low last couple of days, the fish seems not to take the
bait with the low speed we keep. However, this is compensated by the Flying fish
just dumping into the cockpit during the nights, if not a soft landing they bang
against the aluminum that hold the bimini up and fall directly into the bucket
(if we/they are lucky).
Spirit is good though. We tend to practice more and more math
calculations: - remaining Nautical miles divided into expected nm
per day equals to..xy?..days remaining? There are so many possible
answers.
We have done stock counting. Some fresh meat we threw overboard last
Saturday, we accept no risks of salmonella or any other
food infections, no thank you. Bread, pastas, bacon, meatballs, canned
ham, eggs and potatoes... We are ok. Total drinking water (from the shop as
emergency) we are fine as well, and the water tanks (produced from saline water)
have now reached to a maximum 400 ltr. tank capacity again. Diesel
consummation is evenly spread out. We use when we have to. So all in all we can
just relax and enjoy a lazy cruising and hope they do not close the local
pub in the island we are heading to, -Martinique in the Caribbean, now
defined as our target destination. We should have passed 50% of the
distance this morning (according to our last revised schedule) but
unfortunately we have to wait for this milestone until late evening or early
morning.
Currently we are motoring at 7 knots and the sun has just appeared in the
horizon (sunrise appears later every morning).
Another day....
Current log (actual): 1370 nm (estimated at
noon today Tuesday)
Day 11 approx. 100 nm (not yet
final, we clock it at noon)
Day 10 118 nm
Day 9 113 nm
Day 8 117 nm
Day 7 127 nm
Day 6 118 nm
Day 5 150 nm
Day 4 137 nm
Day 3 100 nm
Day 2 120 nm
Day 1 170 nm
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