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Azzurra - Day 14 – Hanging around-




Position Saturday, 07.12.2013 11:00 UTC: 21”33’.627 N, 038”13’.993;
DTW St. Lucia: 1368 sm
Another day providing sailors dream; dead calm for over 12 hours, starting
about 6:00 in the morning. The current was the only force getting us moved
to somewhere; of cause to the wrong direction. We used the time to get the
Genoa down again, taping some problem areas and to take of the leech line.
A loose screw on the forestay gave us some problems getting the sail down.
Again, someone had to be hived up the mast. We also tried to solve our
Seatalk data transmission problems. We found some things with just minor
impact. It seems like we have to live with it as it is right now. After
having spent several hours in Azzurra’s torture chamber we gave up as we
had no more practical solutions to find the problem. The Generator was
started and ran thru the whole night.
We took some advantage out of this calm situation and used the brake for a
nice swim, always one hand on the ladder. Being alone in the middle of the
Atlantic you have a different understanding on safety, than cruising along
the coast. A comfortable warm shower thereafter was an exciting moment. We
were that clean, that we had to put on fresh clothes; what a feeling.
This death calm was also the perfect environment for Brian’s Birthday
dinner. Brian, in competition with a five star cook prepared this dinner
very precise making it the special event not only for this day. Nearly
most of the important people joint this dinner. There were just some
exceptions, as Brian missed his Friday dart friends, Pete, Steward, Roger,
Jaime and Davey. The steaks Brian served were extremely delicious, finest
Spanish beef filet. For sure it could compete with the famous Kobie meat.
Right after the dinner we smelled wind. Really, slowly it started and
stayed the night over with about 20 knots. It was a rough night, offering
only limited sleep. The waves were short and rough, it became a jumping
tour.
It is our 14th day on sea and we have just made half the journey. We are
very enthusiastic that the 2nd half will take much less time than the 1st.
We just need a wind taking us more south to the trade winds.
On behalf of the E-N-S going crew
Manfred

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