Transatlantic Passage Day 8, 18 January 2013
Petronella
Fri 18 Jan 2013 22:29
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15:15.40N 40:27.12W
Fast sailing overnight was followed by a variable
period for a while during the day with the wind veering to the south east when
we progressed under mainsail and lapped yankees. Noon to noon run was 168nm. We
changed back to twin headsails before dark as the forecast is for the winds
to return to easterlies overnight.
What do we do all day? The established
routine is that breakfast is conjured up around 1000 when everyone is awake
again following the night watches. This normally takes the form of a brunch to
keep us going through the day. There are always jobs to be done on board,
routine maintenance, cleaning and minor repairs, and of course changes to the
sail arrangements as the wind changes, but usually this still leaves plenty of
time for reading and relaxing. Although the towed generator helps to keep
the batteries topped up we also run the diesel generator once a day. Recently we
have also started to run the watermaker (Reverse Osmosis system) to generate
freshwater from seawater to top up the tanks
(900litres when full).
 Geoff
replaces a chafed lashing
We aim to have the main meal of the day around
2100. So far we have been able to make use of fresh vegetables and meat from the
freezer but these stocks are now starting to run low. We still have plenty of
fresh fruit and tomatoes and must remember to take a few green bananas out from
their dark store each day to ripen on deck.
Night watches start at 2200 with Martin and Tina
taking the first watch until 0100. Peter and Geoff alternatively each take the
0100 to 0400 and 0400 to 0700 watches, swapping round each night.
Each day seems to slip quite quickly by into the
next.
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