Fw: 25:03.63N 16:51.36W Can you smell something fishy7
Lady Corinne
iain and gaynor macalister
Fri 18 Dec 2009 08:59
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----- Original Message -----
From: LadyC
To: LadyC
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 9:43 AM
Subject: 25:03.63N 16:51.36W Can you smell something fishy7
Finally at sea once again and it feels great!
Leaving Mogan was seemingly very hard to do and then just as we were all set the
weather turned against us and delayed our departure but I'm now sitting solo in
the cockpit as we glide steadily towards where the sun has just dipped below the
horizon and left a majestic deep orange glow to stir my thoughts. It has
taken a while to settle into the pattern of life at sea and we have been plagued
by the winds not really doing what we want them to, but in sailing they very
rarely do. Gaynor cooked a delicious meat stew with Canarian potatoes from
the hesian sack that we brought with us and we all sat down together
as the sun was sinking and had a proper meal together,something that's always
nice to do at the end of the day as, although we are together on the boat, we
don't really get to spend time all together especially at the start of a
voyage as we all have lots of our own things to do. I've just stood up to
have a look around and it is now completely black out there with just 4 stars in
a clear sky. We are motoring at the moment as we have spent the last 3
days sailing around in a relatively small area about 150 miles south of the
Canaries trying to head south west so we can find the seemingly elusive trade
winds that should push us from behind all the way to the Caribbean some 2700
miles away. The wind died this afternoon so I now have the reassuring purr of
the Perkins 4.108 diesel engine from under the floor of the cockpit beneath
my feet as we march on through the night. Gaynor and Max have both gone off
watch so I have just over an hour of solitude before I am released to go below
to enjoy 4 hours sleep. We start night watches at 1800 hrs and do 2 hours
on then 4 off through the night and 3 on 6 off during the day. This seems to
work well and once you are into the routine you don't feel deprived of
sleep. Another look around into the inky darkness and I'm pleased to
say that we have this patch of the vast ocean to ourselves, Last night
under sail there were a lot of ships around and it's always a worry trying to
work out if they've seen you and if they have taken avoiding action, they often
seem to come much, much closer than you'd like them to, It's great
having Max with us on this leg and with his wealth of sailing experience he has
a huge input into all aspects of life onboard and in particular sail
trimming from his racing background on America's Cup yachts and other
prestigious events. About the only thing that I'm not too happy about is
that he turned up with some provisions that he has a particular liking for and
one of them was tollo, a Canarian delicacy made from cured cod, it's a bit like
beef jerky but of the fishy variety and to say it stinks to high heaven is a
huge understatement. It's so bad I made him unpack it and it's now
banished to the deck locker up by the mast, but I haven't seen any cockroaches I
bet they all jumped ship when that came on board, This is nice I've just
plugged my Ipod in and I feel as though I could carry on with this blog all
night (just wish I could get past the two fingers stage as my watch is
almost ended). Talking of things with unsavory habits I read that you had 10000
star fish die on a beach in Norfolk, not that I have anything against star fish
but something that eats by ejecting it's stomach covering it's food in enzymes
and then sucking it's intestines back in really needs to learn some proper table
manners. Just before dinner this evening a huge pod of dolphins popped
over to cavort around us for about twenty minutes, they were, as they always are
spectacular and I honestly don't think I will ever tire of watching their sleek
elegance. Tonight's troupe brought an acrobat with them and it was jumping
and spinning 8 - 10 feet clear of the water right beside us, such a privilege
and a pleasure to behold. Time to go and prise Gaynor out of her warm bunk
slip on my wee willie winkie sleeping hat and turn in, I'll add a bit
more tomorrow then get this off to you so you can start sending us a few emails
please!
Midnight and I'm back on watch suitably refreshed
after what I can only think was a good rest rather than a good sleep as with
a 60 horsepower engine thundering away in the corner of your bedroom I
don't think sleep is an option but I'm feeling good. In fact the whole ship
is good and we're all doing fine. We have had a few problems with the
furling gear on the foresail (that's the one that goes right at the front from
the end of the bowsprit to the top of the mast,the furling is a mechanism for
rolling it around the wire to reduce it's size or stow it away rolled round and
round on itself, we control it with ropes from the cockpit) which has got
stuck a couple of times.
The remedy is to get dressed up in full wet weather
gear and lifejacket and harness and go out to the end of the bowsprit
and take the rope off the reefing drum turn by turn as the boat pitches and
gives me the occasional dunking as we come off a large wave. Weather
permitting tomorrow we will have to try and get it sorted out. Just after
we had worked on it this morning the foresail halyard (rope that pulls a
sail up) snapped and the whole twistle sail descended unceremoniously into
the sea and foredeck. We have also taken a lot of the weight out of
the forepeak which has considerably lightened the bow and given her a much
better feel. Right now the sea is very calm with just the long rolling
Atlantic swell and no breaking water other than that caused by our progress
through the water. As the frothing water is pushed away from our bow it is
softly illuminated by the navigation lights on each side of the mast red to
port(lhs) and green to starboard (rhs). A big storm far away to my right
is lighting up the skies in the distance with the occasional flash of lightning.
I hope it stays a long way off. To my left in the distance is a very large
cruise ship which is probably heading to the same place as us, I imagine they'll
be enjoying cocktails and a range of entertainment in a plush environment
but I wouldn't swap places, this is the best seat in the house. The 4
stars I left earlier have been joined by a few zillion trillion million
more and the milky way is a broad brush stroke of luminous wonder that arches
overhead from one side to the other. I only recognise 2 constellations,
Orion's belt and the plough, the former is on it's side and the plough is
totally upside down! if only people could just leave the stars where
they're meant to be please. I hope you've enjoyed the best part of two
night watches on Lady C it's been great for us,
0720 on my third watch of the night and just
thought I'd share a bit of this morning's beautiful scenery with you - what a
place to sit and eat breakfast - Buen appetito! ( pics to follow
seperatly)
Hasta La Proxima
Lady Corinne, her crew and the very smelly
fish
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