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Firefly - Firefly clocks up 50,000 miles



Firefly now has 50,000 nautical miles on the clock, that milestone being past yesterday about halfway to Mauritius from Cocos Keeling. It was back in June last year that she reached 40k whilst en route to Savu Savu on Fiji. Those additional miles being used up reaching and then cruising in SE Asia with the northernmost point logged being the Myanmar border on the north west coast of Thailand. When Paul and Susie bought Firefly in 2009, the previous owner had sailed her 10,000 miles and when Firefly left Salcombe for this trip, back in September 2013, the log was at 20,100.

So far on this passage she is performing very well and after the role call via SSB radio this morning is the second closest World ARC yacht to Mauritius - Resolute 2, the leading yacht being a high performance catamaran. Obviously leaving the evening before the main group of the fleet was always going to help - but as we have been at sea almost a week the expectation was that some of the larger yachts would have caught up by now. The early departure was particularly useful in getting ahead of some lighter winds experienced on days 3 and 4....Firefly managed to sail most of that time while the boats behind had to resort to motoring.


Light winds have not been a problem for the last few days - at times we have seen sustained winds over 30 knots and the sea has been very rough. Experienced crew member, Hugh, who has done a lot of long distance sailing commented yesterday 'I don't think I will bother with the Indian Ocean again' after Firefly lurched on another steep wave.

Winds are now down to 20 knots and we are sailing on a very broad reach. Life on board has become more comfortable and normal service has resumed.....toast for breakfast in the cockpit after the SSB Radio net in the morning, beers (1 small can each) and nuts in the cockpit followed by dinner and finally the evening SSB net before it gets dark and our night watches start. As we head west but maintain our clocks on Cocos time the sunrise and sunsets get later, suiting us better as the times we eat are more normal for us. Lunch has been eliminated from the programme as the evening meal portion control repeatedly goes wrong. Last night's 'Spag Bol' courtesy of Gareth was of epic proportions and is still being digested many hours later - this however did not reduce the quantity of toast consumed this morning as the bread stocks remain good.

Today, Sunday 9th October, the forecast gives the winds gradually easing to 15 knots or below although there should be enough during the week ahead for a relatively fast passage to Port Louis on Mauritius. The wind is also going more easterly and it is now time to get Firefly rigged for goose winged sailing - when the mainsail and jib are on opposite sides with the wind almost directly behind.

Paul, Gareth and Hugh

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