Well last night we had a somewhat eventful time! After a relatively peaceful and steady 5-6kts afternoon we noticed that the only two boats we could see on the AIS were putting up their spinnakers and increasing speed dramatically. We could
not resist doing the same and so we un wound the big blue sail, and sure enough our speed rocketed up to 8-8.5kts in a flat sea with only about 12-14kts of wind. We had supper sitting in the cockpit in great comfort, hardly any rolling as the boat surged forward.
Any any ideas that our neighbours had of overtaking us were frustrated. There seemed no reason to suppose that the wind would increase. Thus far it has tended to drop a little at night so it was decided to sail on into the night with the chute up.
All was well till about midnight by which time the wind was blowing a steady 17-18kts, definitely too much for the slightly aged sail, so it was all hands on deck to get it rolled up. Sadly it did not go according to plan. James is being very grown up
and not blaming anyone but some of us do have a sense of responsibility. All I can say it the it was a wild ride for about half an hour. First the sail got wrapped round the inner forestay, then it ripped itself to shreds before we could get it rolled away.
It was harnesses on, and onto the foredeck to try to get it down and packed away. It was so tightly wrapped that we had to just stuff what we could into the bag and secure it till the morning. Head torches were essential and my new one worked very well.
The good thing is that the wind has stayed strong and even without the spinnaker we are flying along and now heading directly for Grenada. Let’s hope this wind holds all the way now. If so it wont take us long!