2010-11-24
Atlantic, position 22-45N, 18-13V (Outside of Western Sahara)
21:20 UTC
Woke up in the morning by myself! This meant that parasailorn safely hung as it should. Good, then I can go up and grab a coffee in the cockpit and a cigarette. Something was ringing! I have stopped smoking (!) .. and has no cigarette ... and have yet to find a tobacco kiosk ... and have not even seen a sign of them in the charts!
Ok, I take a coffee and the cigarettes has to wait a little, to I find the way to get them!. This evening, I sneak up on Western Sahara beach and buy a couple of cigarettes ... I mean boxes .... no, I mean big boxes. No, I will buy much more! Bengt and Louise has taught me that everything gets more expensive the further west you go, and cigarettes are easy (not weigh down the boat), has long shelf life, good to trade with. Yes they actually meet all the conditions to be a good be to be with him! (Why had I not thought of that before?) I will fill the spaces which is empty after our third big shopping! Some little bell was ringing to point out that cigarettes were not good, either for yourself or others! But I did not want to listen to that!
We had breakfast in the cockpit. We slipped slowly back and the sun warmed nice. It was exactly then, as the wind ceased. Yes, stopped to breathe fully, not even a small gust of wind. What would I do? We were supposed to sail about 3000 nautical miles, then there is no time to be here and not doing any speed:). The wind will come soon ... yes but what if it does not ... yes it does ... I started the engine, you may use the engine, but the penalty can add, and no one knows how much punishment it is, then you obviously keep this very secret, depending on a variety of factors determined by races, then it is up to the size of this penalty additions shall be for each one. If this sounds complicated, it's just the way it is!
Not a ripple on the water so we continued to sail with iron genoa. We approached the Big Spirit, one of the big boats that participated in the Racing class, they may, unlike the rest of us do not use the engine. If they would start the engine it is considered as they are broken the race.
We called them up on the VHF and asked if there was anything they needed, but it was not. When I asked if they wanted some beers, was their reply immediately that they loved beer. Given a racing boats is traying to get down the weight, I'm hardly belive that their stores were so great and with these winds, it could take long before they could visit a beer bar in Santa Lucia. We therefore drove up alongside them and placed over a bag of beer. Can the promise that it appreciated!
At 17:00 the wind had increased so we could once again start sailing. On SSB, we heard that there were several boats that used the engine during the day. The wind increased steadily and soon we could sail in just over 8 knots! Sweet!
In the evening, it was burgers with beer. Soon the moon rose up and it was a really hot night, where you could sit in just shorts and enjoy the moonlight and the stars accompanied by sound from the waves as they beat against the hull.
We drove three hours guards around the clock, which meant someone was on guard 18-21, 21-24, 24-3 and 3-6 and then we continued on the same day. Those who had regular guard was 2nd defend if any help would be needed.
When it was my watch, I changed course to get closer to the beach, but it was as if Lena had a built-in compass. After fifteen minutes, she came up and asked if we were not off course! I looked down and admit that we were off course. It was only to correct the course and realize that we would not come any closer to Western Sahara beach as long as Lena was on board! And lend her across the table thought I was a little too drastic, so I had to figure out new ways. Could well trade with another boat (?) - A bottle of whiskey against a couple of boxes of cigarettes? If I was able to approach a boat, apply over a rope with a plastic bag and a bottle of whiskey in a plastic bag. Then get back rope, now with a number of cigarettes in a plastic bag. (Must not forget to send in a waterproof box, where they can put cigarettes in – otherwise the whole operation is unnecessary). Fantastic idea and much easier than the intended stand carved in Morocco! With tis operation I even could avoid getting wet! I just had to find a boat with smokers! There are not many these days! I have to try to smell if they were smokers or if I could see if they lit a cigarette. It would most probably be useless to ask someone who don’t smoke. But who knows, they could have it to trade with! There in front of me was a smaller boat. I started the engine to catch up with them. Slowly I was coming closer to the white sailboat. 200 yards ... 100 yards ... 50 yards ... THEN I hear on the VHF clearly: "Amelit You are to close to us! Please keep at least, 200 yards! "Lena comes up and asks if I had fallen asleep on guard! I lobster bit and steering away from the boat. I would shut AIS'en. In that case they had not been able to call me up with the name, but now it was to light to do anything about that. I have to think out a new way, it will be the night's task.
We had now been out for over three days and everything feels good, (apart from cigarette craving:)). The crew worked well and the captain had not been thrown overboard yet, so we can then conclude that Amelit is a harmonious boat this far!
Kaj