This morning we have the best conditions since we left Kos on 25
October.
The NW breeze backed overnight to give a F4 Southerly breeze now which is
giving a beam reach with a boat speed of around 7.5knots.
We are on a course of 285M which is also the lay line for Ibiza so let’s
hope the forecast continues to show S’ly winds for the next 2 days to let
Ceilidh continue to eat up the miles.
We are currently around 25NM offshore from the North coast of Tunisia and
close to abeam of the Isle de la Galite, the conditions are glorious with blue
skies and no cloud cover.
Yesterday’s passage was a bit of a mixed bag, we cleared South of
Pantelleria on a close hauled Westerly course and ended up being headed on both
North and Westerly tacks in only 7knots of breeze. The engine was fired up at
21:00hrs and assisted us over the next 8hours while we cleared Cap Bon
headland on Tunisia.
Following breakfast this morning we tackled the code 0 and hoisted our
shiny new Gennaker in around 10knots of breeze giving us 8knots SOG.
However when we came to do a test furl things did not go so smoothly with a
bit of an hour glass effect meaning we had to drop the semi furled sail on to
the foredeck and back down the hatch.
So our most potent weapon in terms of light weather conditions remains just
a prospect to be savoured but I am confident that all the teething problems will
be ironed out soon.
We are looking for a 5- 10 knot weather window to do further testing.
All looks good on my ETA to Ibiza with Mr D &G being far too
pessimistic once again!
Dave Sturrock