Blog 21st June - mid summer day
Nightsong
Mon 21 Jun 2010 11:45
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Dear Blog
Midday position 48.37N 08,37W still at
sea - with 5 miles to go - the wind headed me with a vengeance
Very tired , in fact almost hallucinating after a
dreadful night. So pictures instead -the first shows my position soon after
midday yesterday - about to enter the Cape Finisterre separation zones - not
much separation! The countless ships went on all night and I had to tack for one
and change course for 2 others. Great AIS
 I was hoping to be in by now but the gribs got it
wrong. Not only was I headed in the middle of the night but it blew a full 30
knots for 2 hours. This caused havoc on Nightsong, Very very rough - so first
the ceiling in the forecabin came down. Then I messed up taking the 3rd reef
(difficult with no autohelm) and broke the stbd stacpac lines - so sail
everywhere. Just as I was tidying up this, there came a noise from below
familiar to my sister and bro-in-law. The bowthruster had started spontaneously
- or rather with water ingress. Mad rush to disconnect at the fuse before the
batteries went dead (Northshore don't provide a switch). I had heard the anchor
chain bouncing in the massive seas and wondered if this would break my seals on
the bowthruster compartment hatch. In fact a usual Nightsong saga.
Still I should be in Coruna shrtly - gave up
sailing at 0900 hrs after the Force 7 thrash but staretd again an hour
ago since I want to sail in past the Tower Of Hercules.. Content to
have done nearly a week (148 hours about) singlehanded anyway with lots of
challenges.
Self portrait of me with Galician coast this
morning. Terry and Brian - we've got some repairs to do before we set sail and
maybe the bowthruster is irrepairable this time. But at least the jib
survived!!
 AJB 21.06 10
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