We had a bit on again last night. With the kite up most of the day we felt quite comfortable as dusk came and the change of watch put yours truly on the helm. Pitch darkness fell as with the nearly full moon not yet up heavy cloud cover the only thing visible were the jumbo instrument repeaters at the mast. Strange times indeed tearing down waves at 14kts with only flickering numbers on the instruments and the feel in your feet to tell you which way to turn the helm so as not to broach.
Still we made it through to the watch change as the moonlight started to filter through and thought the worst to be over as we had a horizon and the wind was reasonably steady at 20-25kts.
However 4 hours later we got a wake up call; with Mike on the helm a big wave picked up the back of the boat and spun us around, the kite collapsed and Flower sheeted in hard on the line with no pressure in the sail - disaster as the sheet over rode badly on the winch just as the kite re filled. Mike did his best to bear away but no good- Broach and a big one. No way to ease the kite and the yacht on her ear going sideways with water sloshing into the cockpit.
ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Rig flogging, sails flogging and a very stuck winch, no chance to free the winch so with most crew on the coach roof I cut the sheet. Why isnt it coming down? Sh*t! another jam up with the other sheet....luckily Bella came to the rescue and sorted that out just as the crew started to slide accross the deck, kites at this time flying from the top of the rig. PULL! and down she came, and I might add in one piece much to everyones suprise.
Wow, OK back to poled out headsail after that little manouver.
At first light we did a full deck and rig check, then popped the Asymetric. All going well but the sea state is so confused that the waves are making us round up too much, so after much debate its back to poled out jib.
Long and short is we are still doing 10kts, and weve got 1800 mikes to go so breakages can't be risked.Its been a hectic few days for the crew, however moralis super, food is excellent (homemade pizza yesterday and stuffed peppers from Rhona today) so we are happy; champing at the bit, but happy.
What other news? Well it looks as if we have a serious case of Posteriatus Scurvalitius on board. At least thats what Rhonda is calling her gunnel bum (not sure of the spelling but its a load of sore spots on your arse from sitting in wet shorts all day)
Sion has new pants, has rotated back to T shirt No.1 and the shorts...well dont mention the shorts.
TTFN
Tackleberry.