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Lancelot II - Nov 30th Blog



Hello Lancelot II fans
 
Sorry for the blogorama silence for a bit – we’ve had a bit on! Anyway, currently we are buzzing along under the S4 with Milanto on the horizon at 22deg15’078N 032deg45’988W.
 
So heres what we’ve been up to...
At 1am (why is it always 1am?) on the 29th we managed to break a steering cable. We woke up poor Jacko in Hamble for advice on getting the system apart (thanks Jacko!) and three and a half hours later had a spectra strop repair effected which, after a few sessions of re tightening, seems to be holding well, thank goodness.
 
So we spent the 29th being a bit cautious and retightening the cables frequently but the wind was kind and we put in some good westing so not too shabby a day in the end.
 
Going in to night watches, all we wanted was an uneventful evening which we managed quite nicely for the first watch with only a couple of rain squalls to spoil the fun. The second watch caught a couple of rain squalls but so far not so bad. Then the instruments went dark – not good. We thought it was because we were low on batteries and they did revive for a bit when we turned the engine on to charge. But it wasn’t to last and they went again even with the engine on. So we had a couple of watches sailing by the force and the compass and getting absolutely soaked in a rain squall which camped out on us for ages. I was so glad when David got up and took over!
 
Anyway the dawn bought some sunshine and more squall clouds – cue most of the crew turning up on the aft deck in as little as possible clutching their shower gel, really hoping for the first shower of the trip. Alas, the showergel scared away the squall and we resorted to sea water and a shard bottle of watermaker water to rinse off – felt pretty amazing!
 
Its my birthday today and I got a lovely card and a cake and a candle from the crew (David will tell you it made me cry but I think I still had soap in my eyes) and I opened my card from Ollie and Theresa which has been taped to our chart table since Las Palmas – thanks guys, love you xx
 
This afternoon the sun came out to up went the S4. Wahheyyyyy –this is what the brochure said! Then David got in the laz and pulled apart the Raymarine unit with the help of the gang and now we have instruments again.
 
Last of the fresh meat tonight – chilli con carne a la Zuzana – and then it on to the boil in the bags.
 
Thats it for now, I want to go back to watching us reel in Milanto slowly 
 
Much love to all at home
 
Love from L2 and her crew xx

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