Conkers in the Sky Day 16
Zepher
Chris & Lyn Darch
Tue 10 Jun 2008 23:17
|
07:42.94S
126:18.32W
Hi Folks,
After a bit of a wet rain/drizzly night. It's
been a busy morning. We spotted a problem with the spinnaker pole track at
first light. Some of the rivets have given way, and the track was being
wrenched from the mast. All in all Chris spend about three hours up the
mast affecting a repair. This was not the easiest of tasks with the boat
still rolling heavily in the swell. Anyway a couple of pop rivets have
been used to hold the track which will hopefully see us to Marquises.
Where we can work in less uncomfortable circumstances. Chris wants to
angle grind off all the old alloy rivets and replace them with superior
stainless steel ones. Another job to add to the repair list. It also
looks like the bottom will be needing a scrub again if the green growth on the
sugar scoop is anything to go by.
The winds have stayed fairly constant and we are
back to doing 6 -7 knots. At this rate we should reach land by Sunday
morning. I asked Chris which he preferred between this mornings aerial
antics and baking bread yesterday morning; without any hesitation he said aerial
antics, which he found much less stressful. I didn't think we were
such a fussy bunch to please! I don't know why he is so afraid of the
galley, because he always turns out first rate grub. He even produced a
fruit loaf for 3pm tea. Ruth is chefes today, but hasn't had much of a
chance to shine in that department, as she has been busy hoisting Chris up and
down the mast. I think it was five times. (Electric winch).
I seems we are now getting the second
half of her chicken curry tonight, as she has not had time to prepare anything
else. I must admit I had my eye on it as I am cook tomorrow. Now
I'll have to come up with something of my own making. Bangers and mash I
think. The fish have been avoiding us of late and Lyn has been busy trying
different lures including flying fish found on the fore deck to entice them to
take a nibble at her wicked looking hook. It's big enough to catch a
shark.
Veg man corner ,
Thanks Rob for doing the blog , my mind has been in
other places i.e. up the mast . we lost a total of 17 rivets and the track has
twisted off for the top 1m or so , we have effected a tempory repair by doubling
up the rivets below the defect and using the poles below the damage , don't want
to waist the good winds at the moment , 16 to 22 knts and a hull speed of
between 7 and 8 knts , a bit battered and bruised but that's what you get for
frigging in the rigging ....
That's all for now from the crew of the Zephlapod
..
|