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Mischief - Log Day 11: Neal's Birthday!



29 November 2017 0915 Position 16 deg 09'N 031 deg 33'W

We are continuing to make our way West with a slight Southing trying to soak down to latitude 14 degrees eventually. We have the Code 0 set on the spinnaker pole with the genoa set and one reef in the mainsail and are achieving 7.5 knts on a course over ground of 255-260 degs.

It's Neal's 21st birthday (for the 32nd time)!! Accordingly, he has been awarded a day off watch duties and is free to do anything he wishes, except unauthorised swimming which is strictly frowned upon. As it happens he spent most of the day sleeping which I would say was a waste but each to his own. Mid-morning, between periods of slumber, we presented him with his birthday card and presents which consisted of a beautifully crafted card I knocked up on A4 in all of two minutes and signed with affection by each crew member; a bottle of Finnish organic liqueur distilled with the NASA space programme in mind donated by Alf; and last but certainly far from least, a day trip on a boat donated by Dave and Wendy!!

The boat has been sailing along the same or similar course without much attention and the speed has varied between 7 and 5 knots. Trouble is each time the speed drops the ETA shifts out and the Jump Up at Gros Islet on the evening of Friday 8th is beginning to look optimistic, so is the Saturday for that matter. As at 1920 UT we have 1,640 miles to run - still a long way.

So being Neal's special day we had a roast dinner. Managed to knock up a menu fit for the occasion seeing as Dominoes were not willing to deliver:-
Entree: Avocado with olive oil and pepper;
Main: Roast beef with roast potatoes, carrot and pea mix, green beans, onion gravy and Yorkshire pudding;
Dessert: Fruit salad with ice cream (except we had no ice cream)

It surprisingly turned out alright; the beef joint all 2 kgs of it, was really good and the Yorkshire pudding albeit a little late in proceedings, both looked and tasted like Yorkshire pudding! We even opened a very nice bottle of red wine to wash it all down with which set it all off nicely. Cheers!

At dusk and with the sun setting in front of us (meaning we were heading West!) we noticed a glint of light through the Code 0. This meant that there was another tear in it albeit small but needing urgent attention. This is the third minor repair we have carried out on the sail which we effect by sticking rip-stop sticky sail tape over the tear to prevent it getting worse. It has been a discussion point over why these small tears are happening: as the sail has been set they have not caught on a split pin or anything else pointy, but the sail had been over the side near Cap Finnister and it may have strained some of the material (its a laminate)and this has been giving way in places, maybe. Whatever, we have to be vigilant as the Code 0 is vital for our downwind speed. A stitch in time saves nine thousand in this case.

It's been a lovely day but we need to go a bit faster!

Hi Ho!

Charlie

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