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Webster - Worries down South.......



Thursday 15th May 2014. Position 31 6'N 62 27'W

Starting to get back into the watch patterns now but it is hard work dealing with inevitable sleep deprivation, and we have only been out a day and a bit. It has not helped by Dave having a bad throat infection which has confined him to his bunk last night and all of today. I put it down to drinking from a wet glass during our time in Bermuda on top of an ability to raise the cabin roof in his sleep. However, he is up for doing watches tonight so we shall see how he fares otherwise we shall think again.

Last night we saw lights from other boats heading up high and indeed saw several boats tack across onto starboard tack to head further north. This was a little disconcerting as we know there is a huge depression out there and going north then tacking across may put you in line of it; we have taken an early decision to head south of it and have kept plugging away on port tack all night and all day today and very likely all night and tomorrow too. We await the lifting effect of the low hopefully without the huge waves forecast in the north of our present wind regions. My only concern is that we are quite a way south of many others and can't quite head up high enough, 120 degs is the best we can do and often deeper than that. We are actually pointed towards the Verdes Islands rather than the Azores!

The 0930 SSB net was highly interesting. This confirmed we are south of most but also further east than all net participants other than Aurora who left early. Everyone seems to be enjoying the sailing even though it is in the wrong direction.

The wind has been up to 25 knots today but the sun has been out and it has been warm even though to steer we are wearing jackets. We are also all wearing lifevests and lifelines all the time on deck as there are some big waves about coming in all directions. We have not seen a single vessel in the last day until this morning when a huge taner hove into view and was holding a collision course - I could not believe it. She changed course in good time which was a relief so obviously she was keeping a watch. I also spotted what looked like a huge lump of yellow weed floating in the water. It actually turned out to be a massive tangle of polypropylene rope floating there right in our path so avoiding action taken. There is no way we would have seen this at night and a right mess it would have made too, especially if we happened to be under engine.

Just as we are going to press Dave has come on deck looking at least 10 years younger after an all over body wash with two wet wipes. It would appear that in addition to antibiotics he has also been self administering treacle both internally, which soothes the throat, and externally where it has smoothed over all the wrinkles in his face, an effective facelift cream. Truly, this treacle is the elixir of life! I could tell he was much better as he was squabbling with Neal over a bag of Pick n' Mix.......

After a magnificent sunset this evening it looks like it is going to blow again all night and we are hand steering without a plotter. The boat is behaving well so lets hope it continues and the wind backs soon.

Hi Ho!

Charlie

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