can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Exody - Days 37/38 -Free knots and forbidden fruits



Tuesday night February 17th and we only have 200 miles to go to the Galapagos and are currently just 16 miles north of the equator which we will cross tomorrow and then should arrive Thursday morning - reasonably inside my 'bet' of 16.00 unless we have to tack! Tacking is a long forgotten concept along with close hauled sailing - rarely used on these rallies except maybe at start or finish lines. Here we find ourselves, however, close hauled and not quite pointing high enough for our target of San Cristobal 200 miles away- the wind now in the south rather than the proper south-east trades. But it's good to have wind at all given the general engine-hungry prognosis for this leg.

We have had two good days sailing since turning the engine off early Monday morning - the 1.5 to 2 knots of favourable current making it pleasing to see the speedo reading rather more than we'd expect! Today in the light winds of under 10 knots we flew our cruising chute only for the second time. It looks great - white with its blue star (for Sadler Starlight - our boat brand) but it is really not worth the effort of rigging, launch and recovery - plus the need to hand steer the boat with full helmsperson attention to keep it flying - steering is now generally for the Aries vane gear or autopilot to do, not us! We made the same speed with the genny and main with the Aries doing all the work.

We were all a little 'on edge' through Monday night - a murky moonless night - since one of our fleet had been 'visited' the previous early morning by locals from a fishing trawler - turned out they were benignly seeking food and water - but an unnerving experience for them nevertheless - 200 miles offshore and at least 10 miles to the nearest rally participant. This was not an incident any of us wish to replicate.

On a broad reach and then close hauled today, the sea was quite calm enough for several running repairs to be tackled (galley drawer fallen apart, refix engine neutral button for third time, change topping lift shackle which came adrift with the mainsail flogging in the night)

The Galapagos authorities ban almost all imported fresh fruit, veg and dairy goods so our culinary efforts are focused on getting through the relevant on board supplies to save feeding them to the fish - hence Marian's baked mixed veg topped with cheese tonight, mango and apple for breakfast every day. Rum punch regrettably needs to be made to ensure that there are no fresh limes left in the saloon fruit hammock!

Peter (Skipper)



Previous | Next