Blog 17th June
Nightsong
Thu 17 Jun 2010 12:07
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Dear Blog
Midday position 40.14N 21.27W 127bmiles since noon
yesterday but only 117 nm in then right direction
Well I spoke too soon about the the boat seeming to
be OK in yesterday's blog. Just before midnight motoring dead to windward with
no sails up and me asleep, the autopilot motor failed AGAIN. Same as what
happened between Bequia and St Vincent with Keith and Naomi in January. It is
trying to work which means the electronics are OK, but there is a terrible
graunching noise. One of the 3 things I dreaded happening when singlehanded.
This is the offending motor and gearbox in this pic (look familiar Kevin and
Alistair!) - chain drives sprocket on the wheel shaft above it which drives the
quadrant (bottom of pic) through another chain.
 Managed to get the sails up and tried sailing her
up and downwind - latter impossible since she won't hold course for more than a
few seconds but upwind with the steering wheels locked she holds for a long time
- enough even to sleep it would seem. I know it is only 200 miles back to Sao
Miguel and 600 miles to the nearest port on the Portuguese coast but to go on
appears the best option.(and will still try to get to Coruna- 625 miles
now). Very well balanced boat. The forecast is for NE force 6 on
Monday/Tuesday as I approach Cape Finistere so will probably have to steer then
but so far so good and until then force 2/4 seems likely with little sea to
knock the head off course.
The Watch Commander is working fine, waking me
every hour. The AIS picks up ships at least 50 miles away so even with an
approach speed of 20 knots I have plenty of time to avoid commercial ships (of
which there are more than I imagined there would be - initially Gib to New York
route passes straight thru the Azores and now there just seem to be many cross
courses). Just as well since the AIS alarm sounds when they are far too close -
there must be a way to change it but how only Raymarine know. Saw a 165ft
magnificent schooner sailing by in the middle of the night - called Windrose and
I could see her sails agaainst the night sky even tho she was a mile
away.
Hopefulli that is it for bad luck this
trip
AJB 17.06.10
PS Polly if I can't get through on the satellite
which I will try , HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY
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