can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Starblazer - 24/03/2014 – Still not there yet!



As write this, rather belatedly, our ETA passed about 30 minutes ago and we still have 132 NM to go. With luck, and a little more wind, we should be in Tuesday evening but don’t hold your breath.

Yesterday was a noisy day, we motored for all but 20 minutes when we turned the engine off to let the oil drain down so John could check the level. He also took the opportunity for a quick swim to check that there was nothing wrapped around the keel or the propeller. The news was mixed, nothing alien trapped but we have a big crop of what look like goose barnacles which might explain why we cannot get up to the speeds we expect from the engine.

The final 80 litres of diesel are now in the tank, it’s not enough to get us there so we hope for (need?) a little wind.

The day’s run was 109 NM, it would have been better if we hadn’t tried sailing on Saturday afternoon, when we drifted about 3 NM in 2 hours before giving up.

John mended the locking mechanism on the oven, pop riveting the plate back on which holds the bar in place. I made a start on the ‘dining room curtains,’ 1/12th scale in case you missed my earlier log. As you can see, not a lot happened and the wind didn’t rise above 4 knots. We did, however, make contact with Adela about 12 miles east of us and 10 miles north, Pythagoras suggests that is about 16 miles if my mental arithmetic is correct. They will probably catch us up today if they continue motoring. We don’t have enough fuel and, as the breeze has picked up to about 6 knots, we are drifting along under cruising chute.

The only other event was a change of fishing lure followed later by a brief nibble on the fishing line, but no further interest. Oh it’s so exciting here!

The galley offerings yesterday were a chocolate fudge cake with chocolate icing, scrambled eggs, British bacon, black pudding and toast for lunch and a ginger chicken stir fry using up most of the remaining fresh vegetables.
Dessert was an orange and apple salad with yoghurt and honey.

Joyce


Previous | Next