Blog 26th May
Nightsong
Wed 26 May 2010 14:29
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Dear Blog
Noon position 36,43N 47.02W A
disappointing run of only 124 miles since noon yesterday. Still we are more than
half way there now and still hope to be in by Monday night if we can average 7
knots
Yesterday lunchtime saw us storming along with
gennaker up and as the wind increased we were soon doing 7-8 knots. Not quite in
the right direction but Simon suggested goosewing to help this - which we
managed to hold for about 1/2 hour in the calm seas before the
sail wrapped itself round the forestay. This took 3/4 hour to detangle as
David suggested the best way to unwrap it. Eventually successfully (tho Nick
suffered a severe rope lash and burn on the leg in the process) and as the wind
was increasing we just put up the jib. This proved wise as within 1 hour we
had 1 reef in the main and before nightfall, 2 reefs as the wind gusted 25
knots. So we rolled along at 7- 8 knots , fully expecting the roller coaster to
last all night. Unfortunately during Simon's watch at 0200 hrs, the wind died as
we fell into a curious black hole. Very uncomfortable with head winds and large
following seas which came up the stern door. I got fed up this morning so we
tried the engine agian, slackening off all 8 nuts on the coupling,then letting
the engine align itself with the shaft. Not perfect but we have got the
vibration on the shaft down to <1mm from >8mm and we can run the engine at
low revs giving 5 knots safely. So we won't be completely becalmed
again.
Anyway soon after 0800 the wind came back from the
west and we are now rolling along again at + 7kts with 2 reefs and a rolled up
jib. Sadly it is cold and wet unlike yesterday afternoon when it was lovely.
Picture shows Nick sunning himself
 More dolphin visits and whales in the distance -
and we were dive bombed by storm petrels all night - they look like bats in the
dark. Nobody had much sleep last night with all the thrashing about so
that is where I am going now
AJB 26th May 2010
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