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Mischief - A little bit of Mischief Log 3



Day 9 Thursday 8 March 2018. Radio check; disappointing noon day run; Trevor has delusions

As it happened there were a couple of showers during the night but nothing too great. The sea state had settled a little too, but it does seem to build at times for no apparent reason. We remain under main and genoa headed 260 degs. The sun arose around 0715 and we enjoyed sparkling early morning sailing in 18 knots of wind from the ESE still.

1145 we had an unusual alarm on VHF which was a fuel transporter ship the Bansui, for the purposes of a radio check. The alarm was a DSC individual call alarm on channel 06 which auto sets the VHF to that channel, ship to ship. He obviously had picked up our AIS data which includes our MMSI number that allows him to call us direct. It's the first time I've experienced this function so very pleased for it.

1200 Position: 07 degs 25.6' S 111 degs 20.4'W C: 260 Noon to noon run 165nm (disappointing)

1245 The ship Bansui passed by our port side about 4 nm off. Good to see something else out here other than sea and sky. We had another chat on VHF to pass some time en route to Japan. Trevor meanwhile was having "delusions of adequacy" probably bought on by lack of alcohol, as I think he is having withdrawal symptoms from lack of fishing given that the freezer is stuffed full of Wahoo.

After an uneventful afternoon we had potato hash for dinner with the last of our fresh cabbage, which wasn't too fresh. It has been a really good day's sailing albeit that the last 24 hour run to noon was a little disappointing as there seemed no reason for it to be some 15 nm short of recent days. Have to check the arithmetic! The waves had picked up on occasions from the port quarter causing the boat to roll and corkscrew with an uncomfortable motion. The self-steering gear has coped admirably though.

The only incident of the day was a request to listen out for Spirit of Catherine as we were nearest boat to her, given that she had lost both of her fore halyards. We heard nothing but not sure what we could have achieved if we had.

Day 10 Friday 9 March 2018. Mysteries of the Southern Cross; Worrying quiz answers; Half way celebration!;

Last night was again much of the same with wind speeds constant between 18-22 knots accompanied by rolling seas. The stars were out in their multitude with the Milky Way very evident. I haven't quite worked out which is the Southern Cross as it is not readily apparent to my eye but the SSB net contributors were raving about it.

We had a beautiful sunny morning but it soon clouded over before breakfast. Our 0915 position put us precisely half way on 114 degs longitude, as the crow flies. Having said this the logged miles for the trip at 0915 were 1,535 whilst the distance to run from our present position amounts to 1,485 proving that we have not sailed in a straight line.

1200 Position: 07 degs 49.3' S 114 degs 21.2'W C: 260 Noon to noon run: 183 nm (back to normal)

I made some bread this afternoon using the home bake packs we have on board, or at least attempted to do so. For some reason the first batch refused to rise so rather than waste fuel baking it I chucked it and started again with the same result. This time I did bake it and produced a thick biscuit which when thrown overboard sank like a stone. I suspect that the yeast had died as the packs had been stored in a hot space next to the water maker, but who knows, a real shame. So I went back on deck to read my book and took a rogue wave into the cockpit right down my neck - just not my day.

The SSB radio net held a quiz over from this morning. "Who was the first lady prime minister of any country in the world and who was the first lady president?" We actually got these right (Sri Lanka and Argentina) but worryingly one response from one of our former colonial friends across the Atlantic took a wild guess at……USA? Come on!

Trevor cooked a fish curry, using two packs of the frozen fish. Really good but it also means there is room in the freezer so tomorrow he can reset his lines and attempt to fill that hole again. As we had officially crossed half way we celebrated with a tin of cold beer each - Whooppee!

The 2400 position suggested we had covered another 90 nm in the last 12 hours so par for the course still and going well although the boat is rolling considerably. Many contributors to the SSB radio net were complaining of the same issue and were fed up with it. In my experience though that is what trade wind sailing has in store. Embrace and enjoy!

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