Subject: Day 5 - like Wales...but warmerNow for those of us who are mathematically numerate, you will notice there has been no Day 4 blog. There's a very good reason for this. A squall the size of Wales came and sat on us yesterday for about 6 hours. Everything on the boat, including us, was and still is soaked. So it was a bit risky trying to write anything without an iPad or PC that wasn't in a waterproof housing...which of course we don't have.
How we laughed at the 35 kt gusts that hit us yesterday when compared to the "gentle" winds that were forecast. How I laughed when my old waterproof Musto light trousers acted as a wick soaking up any moisture in the atmosphere and depositing it on my legs and undies. How we laughed when the Bimini deposited 30 gallons of fresh water down my back as i popped my head round to look at the foresail. And to cap it all, we've run out of damp squid jokes, "i spy something begging with s", (didn't last long that one) ....and worse, cake.
So yesterday had all the drama of a Winter tv series. All that was missing was the stately home, the friendly butler, and the log fire. Now there's a thought for Practical Boat Owner. How to make a log fire out of damp wet discarded clothing in 40 year old bilge keeler .
So the boat today is like a Chinese laundry. Damp gear hanging everywhere. Im really envious of the larger Oysters in the fleet which i know have there own back garden and washing line to dry stuff out. And butlers probably. Oyster think of everything.
And. This morning, I wake up, pop my head out of the companion way, and say, "what's that big black cloud behind us?" You know, with the strains of Frank Sinatra, "and then i go and spoil it all by saying something stupid" playing in my head.
And so it begins......