Log Day 13 & 14: Gear Failure, contrary winds - by Bob
Pipistrelle - where are we now?
Bob and Elaine Hazell
Sat 5 Dec 2009 22:51
14:33.46N 48:35:90W
Day 13 on board and it is Friday, but I am not
superstitious!
It was not a good start though, with a number of heavy
showers and increased wind during the night, and so sail was shortened.
Come daylight, we found that the motorised genoa furling gear had failed
totally. Whilst we could have continued sailing with the full 150% genoa,
in any increased wind strength it could have been too much to handle, so we took
it down and later flaked and stowed it on deck. All day we have been
running on the staysail and full main that we reefed tonight so our speed is
reduced and therefore our performance which was beginning to look half
reasonable, is now likely to drop back.
Paul this evening caught a baby dolphin fish,
so small it had not learnt that fish do not take bait either side of a full
moon. He pronounced it female though, and when asked how he
knew, some other wag said because it was wearing a bra! And this on
one beer during 'happy hour'. This evening's temperature at 18.00 in the
cockpit was extremely pleasant compared with the now intense daytime heat.
We've been sailing with the bimini up for the last couple of days to provide
some shade, daytime, the temp is 28C. Humidity varies and with last
night's rain was extremely high, so without being able to allow air to flow
through the boat cabin temperatures soared and sleeping
was uncomfortable.
We have 720 miles to go, and are now drinking the
bottled water we bought as emergency rations should the watermaker have
failed. It is a Spectra 380C, and has proved to be remarkably reliable,
and with the new membrane installed in Gibraltar, is making copious
quantities of water. We still have fresh fruit, and tomorrow we are
looking forward to our first freshly baked bread on board.
Day 14.
Paul went fishing this morning, and whilst helping to
sort out an additional sheet for the staysail, had a strike. By the time
he had got back to his rod, another 100 metres of line had run out. 20
minutes later he landed with Nick's help, a very respectable dolphin fish, or
dorado, of 6lb's weight, and not wearing a bra, so male! Tonights menu is
sauteed dorado with paprika.
We are now in a zone of heavy showers, and big wind
shifts, that can cause an unintentional gybe if whoever is on watch is not
watching the wind angles. Added to which we find that we are no sooner on
course for St Lucia, and 20 minutes later we are way off course,
frustrating!
Just had a torrential shower, with a "modest"
increased in wind, we saw 10.3 knots on the clock, with one reef in the main and
the staysail!
So apart from reduced general speed, and therefore a
longer passage, all is still well on board!
Bob, Elaine, Nick, Alan and
Paul