27:27.86N 15:29.88W
Sinan
Tim Kelsey
Sun 15 Nov 2009 15:19
 Day Two and the weather remains a mixed bag -
glorious sunshine but precious little wind. We've been trying hard to catch what
we can (wind that is, rather than fish - we're saving them for later) but at
this rate the spinnaker (see picture) will be up and down more often than West
Bromwich Albion. Captain K awarded us a 6 out of 10 in what he later decided was
"sail practice" rather than a genuine attempt to, er, sail.
So it's motoring for now (although we've also got
the genoa up at the moment, doing about 6.5kn). In fact the engine's become so
popular ("the Iron Sail" or "the Duke of Welly" as it's known), Captain K is
thinking of promoting it to First Mate, which may upset Colin, who has been
doing an admirable job.
Water rationing is going surprisingly well, given
the heat out here and we appear to have enough food to open a small branch of
Budgens. Dolphins aside, mealtimes have been the highlight so far, with Colin's
Basque Chicken an early favourite. However, young Kitkat's first galley shift is
in a couple of days so attitudes may change.
A minor scare after lunch today, when Captain K
declared, with typical understatement: "The Irridium satellite phone is down -
which means no one knows where we are and we can never call for help in an
emergency." After a few minutes a loose connection was discovered and all was
well. But, just in case it happens again, those wanting to keep in touch
with our progress should also log on to the Blue Water Rally website
and look at the section entitled: "Where are they now?" Apparently, it's hosted
by David Jacobs. Children and the young at heart may wish to treat it like a
game of Battleships.
The entertainments programme has yet to be
finalised, but will definitely include a movie night - just as soon as we can
turn the engine off for a couple of hours (makes to much of a racket in the
stern cabin 'cinema'). The lack of wind makes on-deck cards a distinct
possibility - with the heat making strip poker the likely game of choice. We'll
probably end up playing half a game of scrabble, though.
As I write, an approaching tanker has given us an
excuse to play around with radar. Kitkat, who is making "Sinan - the movie" as a
school project, films everything as usual, including the radar screen and Colin
chopping an onion. It's all in the editing I guess.
Must go now as it's my turn to sunbathe. A wise man
once asked: "Does the wind blow in the night?" Let's hope so.
RWD
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