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Webster - doing a wheely



Thursday 8th May 2014 Noon position 30 03'N 65 27'W

Well last night turned out to be a bit rough all in all with 25 knot winds from the North and wave direction to match meaning we were crashing into quite big seas all night long. When the wind veered slightly later on so did the sea and we got little respite. I must be the first person on record to effectively do a 'wheely' in a 43 footer but have no pictures to prove it, only the complaints of the crew up ended down below.

The gas alarm went off for some reason and I jumped down below to investigate. Stuck my head into the gas valve locker to check gas had been turned off which it was but being at an acute angle uphill the washing liquid bottle that was also stored in there came tumbling out and spilt washing liquid all over the floor. It was slippery enough before hand and now was positively dangerous, although it did improve the smell down below for a while! Neal resorted to his favorite resource, kitchen roll. I have never in all my born days seen anyone use the amount of kitchen roll as does Neal. He chucks so much of it over the side following boats must think they are in a paper chase and we are the trail makers. Eight rolls we've got through and we have only been out a week. I do not think we have enough storage for the trip to the Azores for his requirement for two weeks......

Despite being windy and bumpy it was great sailing and the boat went really well in the conditions, as did the crew. As day break came Neal had shaken out the reefs and we were powering along in bright sunshine and crystal clear conditions, its what we signed up for. Trouble was the wind was not in the right direction for a straight line course to Bermuda so we were hanging on for the wind to veer hard to the east, as was forecast. However this did not happen until very late in the day and we have had to motor sail to make the high angle necessary to avoid having to tack.

All was well with our little world until I awoke from an afternoon nap. The chart plotter refused to come on! We were now contemplating making landfall in Bermuda, the most reef strewn island anywhere in the world without a plotter, not the most enticing thought albeit I have the paper charts on board and a handheld GPS. I dare not go to sleep now as every time I wake up there seems to be yet another issue. However our mustard mast climber Igor naturally found Bermuda charts on his tablet so no real problem but the thing did eventually fire up anyhow albeit the GPS is slow to kick in, but I put that down to being in the Bermuda Triangle!

We are some 75nm to run which if we can keep up this present angle (050 deg magnetic) we should arrive in Bermuda around 10am-noon at 6.5-7 knts. This will mean Friday night on the town with the Treacle Miners having been deprived of alcohol for a week so it could get messy.

We are having to motor sail this evening as the wind has done exactly what was predicted and veered east and dropped. The moon is out and hardly a cloud in the sky, but it is getting distinctly colder in the evenings now we are getting further north.

Dave rescued a flying fish on the deck just now and now stinks of fish. It was nearly big enough to eat but we have eaten too much chilli con carne to be bothered.

Roll on tomorrow and Bermuda landfall, especially as Neal can stock up on kitchen roll.


Charlie

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