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Quasar V of Lleyn - 21st January 2009



Wednesday 21st January 2009

 

CONFUSED WINDS, DRIZZLE, SQUALLS AND RAIN

 

This morning we were presented with dull, grey clouds and dark seas.  The winds, whilst initially consistent, started to collapse in to a state of confusion as several murky clouds loomed behind us in menacing fashion. We had the spinnaker up and had been steering 282 degrees true (our destination is 276 degrees), but within about half an hour, the wind backed, veered, backed again, dropped and increased in strength from 5 knots to 20 knots.  The main sail and spinnaker cried out in distress as the wind whipped behind to the leeward side.  We ended up altering our course to 240 degrees to steady the sails and assess what the wind was doing. 

 

It started to drizzle; then it started to rain heavily.  The thicket of dark clouds passed over us and around us, offering us no wind. Quasar wallowed in surprised equanimity; the wind idled in quiescent silence, its intemperate behaviour causing me to cogitate as to whether an emendation was required to the sail plan. The flapping and flogging of the sails and clanking of the boom and pole, bemoaned the need to affect an immediate plan of action.  I could not allow this wind to leave us to suppurate in this 'wind hole' and so with my insatiable appetite for velocity, Sam and I lowered the spinnaker, switched on the engine and steered the correct course to our destination.  Ten minutes later we heard the mellifluous humming of ESE winds, so up went the Twistle Rig and we creamed along at 7.5 knots, Quasar finding the change in pace scintillating  for all of 15 minutes.  Right now, we're sailing at a modest pace of 5 knots with the wind coming from directly behind us.  

 

Fear not readers, I have not eaten a dictionary for breakfast. We on board the good ship Quasar occasionally set ourselves tasks, one of which is to pluck out 10 words from the dictionary and use all words in an amusing story or brief narrative.  If we didn't our brains would lurch in to a state of atrophy along with the muscles in our limbs.

 

Unfortunately, it's now late afternoon and the wind has backed to the east and abandoned us completely and so the engine is now on.  We do this reluctantly as we've made such good progress with the spinnaker and this has been our first day of fickle winds.

 

At the start of this leg I set a challenge to everyone on board. They had to make their own vehicle using material on the boat.  Judging would be based on aesthetics and technical expertise.  Everyone is now tinkering about designing and building his or her vehicle; various hidden lockers have been invaded with the determined search for the elusive material they require. Malcy has got the G clamp out and is working on blocks of wood, Lindsey has knitted a mini spinnaker and is carving out the hull of a boat, Ian keeps disappearing in to his cabin with various materials; Sam is staring fixedly at his part designed vehicle and doesn't look convinced.  Tools are everywhere!  Whilst I set the challenge and consider myself the judge I'm rather feeling the pressure to design my own vehicle and join in..mmmmmm

 

Psst (I'm whispering to you as everyone is asleep; I crouch over the computer in conspiratorial fashion), this evening the wind picked up, veered to the south east and we put the spinnaker up; I kid you not we are stonking along at 8.0 knots.stonking along!  Where did this wind come from?

 

Position @ 0700 UTC 14.56S 13.10W

 

 

 




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