15th May Day 5 Bermuda - Azores 36:00.264N 053:30.500W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Wed 15 May 2013 15:35
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"Life on Starboard Tack"
Yesterday, I thought that we had out manouvered the
storm, but we hadn't. Shortly after posting the blog, all hands were on deck
kitted out in our foulies and harnesses. W got soaked putting in a third reef on the main and
reducing the headsail yet again. We have been unable to sit out in the
cockpit, the waves were long and high and confused on the surface, frequently
dumping vast volumes of sea into the cockpit and anywhere else where it
found it could seep through. Fortunately the cockpit drains are large and
the water disappeared quickly. As the wind strengthened, even with our
reduced sails, we were hurtling along at 6-9kts, I even witnessed 10kts
briefly recorded by the GPS! Our average speed for the day
was just under 7kts and we covered 158km.
For anybody wishing to take on the Atlantic
Circuit, think carefully about the layout of your vessel before embarking on
your passage! My experience is that you are forever on starboard tack, a
great advantage if you are racing, but we are not! Our galley is on the
starboard side, so trying to get objects out of the lockers and hold on is
almost impossible. I do have a strap so I can clip on for support, this is
great when it is weighted, but when reaching into the cupboards the strap
goes slack and slips down to behind my legs - dangerous when the boat
gives a lurch because I can't then step back quickly to
brace myself! Trying to stir or serve food from a large saucepan
on starboard tack is also impossible as the stove is gimbaled and therefore tips
the saucepan away from the chef, so that it is impossible to see what you are
doing, let alone get the ladle contents safely into a bowl.
My bunk is also on starboard in the forepeak, so
are my cupboards. I have lost count of how many times I have opened my
clothes locker and the entire contents have delivered themselves in an
unfolded heap on the floor at my feet! Or other cupboards containing
books, camera and other odds and sods, decide to open themselves and these
contents are redistributed all over my berth. Then comes the difficult task of
keeping balance, trying to stuff the items back in and close the door
before things hurl themselves back out at you with a
vengeance!
Our head is on the port side! That sounds
good, at least the contents of the cupboards here don't rush out to
greet you. However, on starboard tack, trying to wash your face in a
downhill wash hand basin is trying to say the least. So far I have avoided
getting a blackeye or worse still - drowning! Whisper also has a
ventilator on deck to help keep the head fresh. Now on starboard tack this
ventilator lies on the downhill side of the coach roof. When we are at sea
I close it shut tight, but this does not stop the sea which has
cascaded over the coachroof leaking down the ventilator and giving any
unsuspecting seated occupant an impromptu shower! Now, plastic lids on
ceramic bowls tend when wet to slip about, so being seated on the throne,
which is ever lurching, no matter how hard one may try will eventually
slip out of position. Then the fun starts as the head will not flush unless it
can make a vacuum seal. There is nothing to do but kneel in front of it
and try to realign the seat and tighten the wing nuts underneath the
bracket in the hope that it can be fixed before the next shower from above gets
you. Due to the continual motion even the simplest of tasks take longer to
achieve, so it is not surprising that the days are passing quickly.
Despite the difficulties of being on starboard, all
is well onboard, save for the fact that it is damp. The seas have
moderated a little so there is less water flying over Whisper's decks and
our speed has dropped to her usual 5-6kts.
Young (now known as wrecked Sandro), is recovering
and requires feeding! He is dreaming of his first meal at home and plans
to send a request with his requirements when we reach the Azores. He also
wishes to say 'thank you to Piero for motivating him').
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