Becalmed "16:34.89N 27:11.16W"
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Wed 1 Dec 2010 04:24
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We spent the whole of yesterday becalmed, rolling
in the swell. Not too bad - swimming (still an interesting experience with 4000m
of deep blue water beneath you), tidying and reading, plus eating and sleeping.
Bread was made, and Joe and Tom on mother watch produced very nice grilled
baguettes for lunch and an excellent spicy sausage casserole for dinner
with a very nice ripe melon for pudding (eaten just in time; today would
probably have been too late).
We have eaten or thrown away (because it goes
off so quickly in the heat) most of our fresh fruit and vegetables now; luckily
potatoes last for ages, as do onions and we still have a nice cabbage. So no
problem with food yet, but we've a long way to go.
Joe livened up the afternoon by pouring boiling
water over his stomach, despite us having bought the fetching plastic apron
featured in a previous blog specifically to prevent this happening, and having a
'ship's rule' about using it. He wasn't wearing it of course, while making a cup
of tea. As the water went into the cup the boat rolled and the cup of water went
over him. It is very important to cool burned skin down, quickly and for a long
time (not many people realize just how long it takes). Luckily we have lots of
first rate cooling substance available - we made him get in the sea for fifteen
whole minutes, while he worried about sharks nibbling his toes. Looks as if the
damage is not too serious.
Wind continues not to appear. The 'normal' weather
patterns for this part of the world are entirely absent. Having now had in
excess of 24 hours becalmed our resolve has broken and at 0100hrs the engine
went on; we are now motoring south in search of the west-going winds reputedly
lurking down there. They are still very weak however, and we may have to motor
for a lengthy period. Very very frustrating, to say the
least.
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