Jadamama - Blog day 7 Jadamama

“IRISH TIMES”

Saturday (day 6)

Shortly after dawn with winds stable in the 21-23 knt range we set the gennaker (furling the jib) and completed the deck check.

Maryrose then prepared a special weekend treat of dennys sausages, black pudding and fried eggs.

Breakfast was followed by a series of announcements from the skipper.

- Clocks would go back 1 hour to Zulu-2 as we had crossed 30 degrees west.

- Evening watch from 7pm to 7am (previously 8-8), with individual shifts rotated forward.

- Observation triggered by the rip to the tradewinds sail, that collectively we needed to be more proactive and vigilant on shifts, with an emphasis on identifying friction points and preventative maintenance.

Discussion turned to the damaged TradeWinds sail…inspection showed that the tiedown on the port tack had frayed through (uncoated dyneema), likely triggering the tear. Due to the tacks separating, both sides of the sail had not furled evenly and with a 1 meter gap between the corners and ~ 30 tight furls, redeployment is challenging if not unlikely.

Another gorgeous day, heading 260 d, wind @20 knts, and a following 1-2m swell, with Jadamama trucking along at 8knts. This was interrupted at lunch time with gusts of over 25knts necessitating reverting to the jib / reefed main, a configuration we held through the night given the need to be cautious with our gennaker.

Assorted music playlists (some unusual selections from Polly) accompanied an increasingly intense scrabble challenge and storytelling led us into dinner….a fragrant Asian pork curry compliments again of Maryrose.

Total distance run to midnight 185knts.

An atypical Saturday…. especially without a copy of the Irish Times.