can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Tulla Mhor - Day 9; Slow Progress



Last night was amazing and one of the reasons for doing a crossing like this. I was on watch from 2-5 am UTC. When I came up on deck the stars were fantastic. There was no moon. The clouds around the horizon were blurring sea and sky. The stars were reflected off the glassy sea as there is no wind. To the north the sky is lit up intermittently by lightening far far away over the horizon. You cannot hear thunder. The sails were taken down on the previous watch as they were slamming around with the swell of the sea. We are travelling around 1knt in an ancient oceanic current. The plough is clearly visible in the north pointing to the north star and guiding mariners for centuries. It is very peaceful.

We have had no/minimal wind now for 7 days so making very slow progress. If possible we have had the cruising chute up and are very slowly going westward. We sailed Tulla Mhor from Scotland to the Canary islands without having to use the engine except for anchoring/ going into marinas. Our power is from a hydro generator, Watt and Sea, and from solar panels. We have had full power all the way down but need to be sailing at a reasonable speed and have sunshine to produce enough power for the boat. and assumed there would be no problems in the Atlantic ocean south in the tropics. We are not managing to maintain power at all. Travelling at around 3knts and 2-3 days of nearly total cloud cover drained our batteries. The engine battery should be isolated from the domestic ones but it had decreased power as well so much that when we decided to start motoring we could not start the engine. All electrical consumption switched off and with the rising sun managed to get enough battery power. We have been motoring intermittently to maintain power since. Here’s hoping the wind will come soon and we can head for St Lucia.

Life is pleasant in our little cocoon. We caught another fish, 2 whales swam serenely by on Sunday, Hugo is in the lead for the bake off competition having produced an impressive plaited loaf for lunch yesterday. Everyone has read more books than they can remember.

Still no wind this morning,Tuesday. Hugo and Dugald went for a pre breakfast swim and we continue to drift. We decided to change the time at 12.00 today and are now on UTC –1. It will be dark earlier tonight.

Val

Previous | Next