Blog 28th May

Nightsong
Fri 28 May 2010 13:36
Dear Blog
 
Noon Position 37.42N 49.12W - a run of 154 miles in 23 hours, equivalent to 161 miles for the day - disappointing again but then yesterday was another 'Nightsong day' see below
 
Yesterday we had 5 problems
  • Firstly we noticed that a stanchion base had broken - 2nd from the bow on the port side, John and Tony, one of the same ones that went before. Frankly this is ridiculous. The pins need to be at least 12mm not 10mm. Northshore please note
  • Secondly the shaft split on the Duogen again - not a real problem and a known one but we only just had enough shaft left this morning to fix it - we need a new shaft. Rely so much on Duogen - had to have the engine on for 4 hours this morning to make up
  • Next I noticed water under the floor in the forecabin. A lot too - so much so that the log has shorted out and refuses to work (which is sad because we can only get apparent wind speed not true - otherwise this is now working fine). It seems to come in when we are hard over on stbd tack - I guess through one of the through bulkhead connectors in the anchor locker
  • Next one of the mainsail car pins came out and then another whole batten end car came off when taking the 3rd reef in. Managed to use the one below to repair this, this morning, but I must fit new pins in all 13 cars when we get to Horta and meanwhile one car is not attached to the mast. A very bad design by Selden
  • Finally the jib track slider ball bearings have come out and the car is sticking when under pressure. As with the mast 3 years ago, Kevin remember, ballbearings all over the deck which Simon and I tried to collect and repair but with a lot of difficulty. Different size to the mast ones which is a pity 'cos I still have 00's of them
Quite a day yesterday then - rolling along at 7+ knots with 3 reefs in and a well rolled jib until about 4pm. Just as we were trying to replace the mainsail car pin, we were hit by torrential rain and a 40 knot squall. So we bore away under rolled jib (and the main down), all went down below and shut the hatch - here we stayed till after supper at 8pm, Terrible visibility but the AIS came into its own and we asked a tanker to change course on the VHF - which it did. Didn't get the main up till 11pm last night so lost several miles with only the jib. Picture show yesterday's near gale.
 
 
We are prepared now for tomorrow's forecast SSW force 8/9. The storm jib stay is attached and we will bend the sail on today. Should be only 6 hours of 35+ knot winds. We will just run before it - which may mean that we slip north of the rhum line. Meanwhile we are speeding along at 7.5 knots with 3 reefs in the main and only 540 miles to go
 
AJB                     28th May 2010
 
 
 
 

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