(Hopefully) a return to normality
Akarana
Graham Deegan
Fri 4 Dec 2009 03:55
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As I write we are peacefully trucking along at
around 8 knots in 15 knots of wind. We are on port gybe with a
heading of around 250 magnetic. St Lucia is now at 281magnetic but we are
unable to get down there on this gybe and so the question is do we give up this
side of the course in order to get a better angle to the finish. We had
thought south of the rhumb line to be favourite for stronger winds but we are
not sure of that now. Anyway the question is do we get everyone up for a
gybe in the dark or do we carry on - the Nipper ponders this as I
write.
Today was one of somewhat evasive and light winds
and although we never ran out we have been spoiled by the fantastic
winds at the beginning of the ARC. We now want nothing less than 20
knots steady at 135 degrees to our course but unfortunately the last few days
have been anything but that. However it would appear that a lot of boats
have been suffering problems and therefore all is not lost for us. We have
been getting a very helpful update from a fellow on a boat called Tucanon.
He takes all of the boats positions and puts them into a finishing order based
around the continuation of the daily averages of each boat and the handicap of
each boat. He then comes up with a potential finishing position and thus
provides a daily leader board and it is from this that we have been getting our
apparent position. According to Tucanon we are still in the hunt although
we have been ousted from the top slot by a catamaran that is back in 111
position on the water. We are still 20th on the water and therefore it is
still all to play for.
However at mid day today we still had approximately
a 'Fastnet Race' to complete before we finish but nevertheless the finish does
certainly feel a lot closer.
We continue to thrive on board and we are still all
on speaking terms. Although there has been a small incident in which the
Prof's blog was deleted before being sent and I suspect he sees a rival blogger
as the prime suspect. This of course could be the beginning of a nasty
incident but I think it will be defused in the morning by the Nipper confessing
to accidental deletion.
Mum continues to do an outstanding job and would
have been in the running for a Knighthood after this event apart the unfortunate
choice of cheap Portuguese toilet paper when stocking the boat. It is hard
to have too much of a downer on him because he also suffers the consequences of
his unusual meaness and because his faultless cooking. There has however
been some muttering amongst the crew because it is rumoured that the Nipper has
his own supply of the good stuff. However it is probable that a mutiny
will be avoided because of the current good fortune of the boat and the
closeness of the finish. That said, it is a very sensitive subject even
among hardened sailors.
I must go now because I need to send this before
the Prof wakes up and attempts to delete this which would mean that I have set
my watchmate Dick Box Dick on him. On that subject - his washing up has
much improved although there were a couple rejects this evening that I felt I
could not let through. His face crumpled slightly when I passed them back
but he manfully took it.
I am sorry you have had to suffer this mediocre
blog because the Prof's was according to him quite brilliant but no
doubt he will be back tomorrow with something equally so.
Further: Never got a chance to finish or send
the blog before the gybe came sooner that expected. Nice gybe, with kite
floated around in around 15 knots. We are now on the new gybe with the
angle looking good.
So far so good.
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