After one of the best day's sailing any of us had
ever had, last night was a real contrast. We were hit by squall after squall, none from the same direction, and
none of the same speed. And to cap it all, Chris suffered a real
deluge, whilst Elizabeth and I pretended disinterested sleep!
We have moved rapidly from our shadow watch system
to what we hope will be our routine, with all of us doing 3 hours on, 3 off, and
3 standby. In practice this should mean 5 hours or so of uninterrupted
kip, but if last night was anything to go by things don't always go to
plan. Elizabeth, who has not done much night sailing before (she wont be
able to claim that at the end of this trip) tried her hand at Ocean
Catering for the first time. Expecting delays, Chris and I popped out to
the Wheatsheaf for our usual pint, but an irate call to the Landlord (we always
switch our mobiles off on these jaunts) bought us scampering back for our first
taste of Montreal Stew. It was delicious, and all seems set fair for a
series of feasts (apart from when the skipper is on, Ed). I doubt we will
loose the usual pounds and inches at this rate.
Norfy was first up, taking the 8-11 evening
watch. We reefed down to 2 reefs and a smallish foresail as he took over,
and he found it a trying time. Elizabeth fared no better. It was a
real challenge, with the wind veering and backing through 30 degrees or more and
increasing and decreasing in strength all the time. But it was the skipper
who got wet first, and it was not warm rain either. He was very thankful
to hand over again to Norfy at 0500, who having wrestled with the changing wind
for two and a half hours then suffered a monster down-pour, with real tropical
rain hammering on the coach-roof. Luckily he had his waterproof top, but
even so he got soaked. For Elizabeth, who took over the Breakfast Watch at
8am, rain was off, but at one stage she found herself sailing due North to stay
with the wind. Once we'd gybed, we got a few minutes of great beam
reaching, but this has now palled, and once more the wind is all over the shop
and we have no idea whether to gybe or to pole out the Genoa, to reef or
put up the mizzen.
But a day's run of 144 miles is not too
bad.
Whatever else, sailing aint boring.
We are all well and happy, and send best wishes to everyone.
James, Chris and Elizabeth
Yacht CLEONE
13.39N 65.49W