Fair wind
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Tue 7 Dec 2010 14:43
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Our position is 12:56.54N 30:25.14W
24 hour Run Log trip
(through the water)
137.5Nm
24 hour Run
GPS
(overground)
128.7Nm
Midday wind and weather Force 3 NNE Hot Sun some cumulus Sea state: Slight swell from the N with following waves. White horses just breaking. Temperature: 31C Distance to go
1703 (12 days
@6Knts)
The light Easterly wind continued yesterday until
late afternoon, so we persevered with the Genoa and cruising chute both poled
out, waiting for the wind to back and strengthen as promised in the gribs. By
7:00 in the evening we had hoisted the main and set the chute spinnaker style.
Earlier in the day we had recalculated the great circle route ( in truth not a
lot different from the ruhm line) and the improved wind and changed rig allowed
us to make good progress to our first waypoint. I think this was the first time
since leaving Tenerife that we were making good speed in exactly the direction
we wanted to. There was little change during the night with only occasional
lighter periods and the wind freshened this morning so by l2:00 we were happy to
see our track matching the route set and, bearing in mind yesterday
afternoon, a respectable run for the day.
The gribs for the next 4 days show strengthening
winds tending to go back towards ENE.
We have given some thought as to how we will deal
with the changing time zones as we go west. We are now 30degrees W so we should
currently be 2 hours after UT. (GMT) We concluded that the only things that need
to move with time zones are meal times, as our sleep patterns are defined by
watch keeping and navigation seems best done in UT, so we will stick with UT and
change the times we eat. Actually this seems to have been happening anyway as we
have breakfast a bit after sunrise when all the crew are awake and dinner is
scheduled to be finished by the time it is dark and lunch is about in between.
We will change the ships clock in Barbados.
A good morning for domestics today. Heads, cabin
and cockpit were given a good clean, two loaves of brown bread were baked, and a
bowl of coleslaw prepared to be eaten at lunch time.
Two weeks after shopping all fresh salads are
consumed or disposed of, however lunch of excellent cheddar cheese, coleslaw,
fresh warm brown bread and a glass of cold beer, did not indicate the problems
of two weeks of food storage.
Fishing continues but the now experts on board feel
that our increased speed is not helping. Peter did get a big one on the hook
yesterday afternoon, but regrettably it got away so he had to cook tinned
meatballs with the carrots cabbage and potatoes, rather than grilled tuna
steaks.
Sailing is now much more rewarding and is focussing
the minds of the watchkeeper, always trying to get the best from the cruising
chute without it breaking and flapping.
The only downside is that it is not easy to
rig a good sun shade so it is a bit hot in the cockpit. We have got a wind
scoop rigged over the aft cabin hatch which is sending a strong cooling
breeze through my cabin and the saloon. It would be churlish to complain of
the heat.
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