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Nizuc - Blog 23 Nizuk



Blog 23 – Squall or Nothing

Third night with limited power.

We have torches, and some battery operated lights, but are mostly fumbling around between helm, galley, and bed, during the nights. Try blindfolding yourself at bedtime, and see how many objects you can kick on the way to bed. If you can’t get into your sleeping bag, the chances are it’s not your bag, or someone is already in it (everyone else snores, so this would be your clue).

The excitement at the moment is spotting and avoiding squalls. A SQUALL is an acronym for Sequential Quatorial Upsurge At Localised Latitudes. When you think there is a squall coming, the sails need to be reduced, all hatches closed, windows shut, and waterproofs or shorts on, depending on temperature. Usually, by the time you have done all this, the squall has dissipated, or missed you, if you are steering to avoid it. If the squall does hit, the wind increases, and we tend to run with it (if it is daylight, this is good fun). Once the gusts pass, the rain usually comes on to wash the decks. The rain has no discernible petrichore, but there is a certain patina to the deck, which wafts a little flying-fishiness around the boat. Once the rain dies down, the wind tends to drop. It’s a strange cycle, but one we have got used to.

The gibbous moon has been a great help in the nights, along with the planets that we already knew. Orion is the guiding light for the early morning shift.

That’ll do.

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