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Firefly - Black Thursday



Firefly's blog has been regularly posted on the World Cruising website since we sailed away from the UK in September 2013. HOWEVER, regular postings ceased back in October 2016 and have just restarted. The reason for the break was a collision with a ship. The subsequent repairs have taken considerable organisation and due to absolutely first class support from our insurer's, Admiral and the World's best rigging company, Associated Rigging in Cape Town, we have stayed on schedule with the World ARC rally - but there has not been time for writing blogs....

This one was written an hour or so before the incident but never posted.....

'Today is Thursday 13th of October and Firefly's crew are dreaming of Mauritius's local speciality, Carri Poission (fish curry) washed down with the island's Phoenix Beer on Saturday evening. Despite a very fast passage across the Indian Ocean and continuing favorable trade winds it is however unlikely that time will be on our side.

Its 0800 now and there are 450 miles to run until we reach Port Louis. The forecast for the next 24 hours gives us broad reaching in 20 knots and that should mean close on another 200 miles under the keel as we average about 8 knots. The wind will then move more to the east and gradually reduce meaning less speed to cover the final 250.

Having been at sea for a week and half it is interesting how one's mind works, and more interesting that the 3 of us are all thinking the same thing - we can't wait to arrive. However it is important to point out that as keen sailors we are loving the trip - and hating it the same time. There are a number of negatives but it is predominantly that the boat never stops rolling and we are effectively imprisoned. Making a long passage on a yacht is however a unique and often magical experience, in fact while discussing the experience so far, Gareth described it as a 'complete detox from modern life'.

We are a mere spec in the midst of massive ocean moving at about one hundredth the speed of a modern airliner - it makes the planet feel extremely large (a good feeling) and apart from the odd bird and flying fish there is nothing else here. Totally dependent on Firefly, she is powered by the wind and creates the electrical power needed from the towed generator and the solar panels. In fact traveling this fast the generator is so efficient that we only need the engine running briefly in the morning to power the toaster.'

Over the next few weeks some of the highlights of the rally from Mauritius to Cape Town will be posted as well as the current passage across the South Atlantic.


Paul

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