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

Menu

La Contenta - Day 12: Rollin’ in the deep



Day 12: Rollin’ in the deep
 
Today had been a day of rolling. A sloppy side to side motion as we are becalmed again and have variable, slight, fluky winds. We have spent the day looking at the deep blue of the ocean and scanning the horizon for boat and birds.  Both have been absent from view.  The roll is an odd movement as we lollop from side to side.  Its not particularly relaxing and LC seems to find it hard too.  She creaks and groans as she rolls and gives herself up to the dance of the sea.  Though the surface of the sea is glassy, the undulations of the ocean mean that we are still having a wave motion rolling at us gently from the east.
 
Today we have sorted our onions!  When we provisioned we based our onion order on one to two per day and asked for 48 onions  This was based on the average size of onion purchased in the UK.  Our face must have been a picture when they arrived.  They were huge. Onions on steroids.  Whoever said size doesn't matter is wrong.  It does on a boat.  We were left scratching our heads as to where to store this immense volume of onions.  The solution was in a net strung above the lee cloth in Ewen and Cals room.  There they have stayed since swinging in a response to the rolling.  However this was not as perfect as it sounds.  As onions roll they shed bits of their skin.  This has been raining down like confetti onto Ewen and Cal as they have slept.  They have been very tolerant but enough is enough.  Hoovering ones bed daily wears thin after a while and today the onions moved on to new resting places. They are now residing in spaces created by munching through our provisions.  Our fresh fruit and veg is dwindling now.  The die hard carrots and potatoes are surviving well and we had the last of the mangoes at tea, but I watch the decreasing supply of satsumas with sadness.
 
So what is working really well for me on LC.  Hovering around the top of the list is the lee cloths.  I just love them.  Last year we crewed on the ARC on a French boat a jeanneau 57.  She was a beautiful boat, light and airy and we were fortunate enough to have our own cabin that was situated forward and starboard. We had a cosy three quarter size bed that was really comfortable.  We set off from Las Palmas and that first night snuggled down to sleep.  For those of you who weren't there we set off in a force 8 and the seas were pitchy.  As Dona Flor rolled, we rolled and the mattress slid.  We all ended up (or should I say down) on the floor, Dave myself and the mattress in varying combinations of order. The mattress was held on by velcro and there was no lip of wood to secure it in place and no lee cloths.  We became acutely aware of what we called the pitching angle.  That is the angle of the boat that caused slippage and us to be catapulted onto the floor. Several bruises later Dave slept on the floor and we secured the mattress with string.  So lee cloths are a luxury.  I just love them. They provide comfort and security and Dave would say he now gets a fair half of the bed!
 
Lee cloths stop us rolling: Rollin’ in the deep.
 
Fish update.... Marigold glove 1 : Professional fish lure 0

Previous | Next