We tried to sail earlier today out of frustration but managed just
3.8knots on VMG (towards Bermuda) so packed in after 30 minutes. So I put the outboard to bed for the next few months (Greasing etc
etc.) as its off the tender on the pushpit. Fishing is off, Murray and I had
planned to have a competition, but
as we are motoring I either don’t think fish can swim this fast or they are
suspicious of the supersonic Muppet (fake squid) we have on the end of the line
!
Last night I heard on the Long Range Radio (SSB) that one of the
yachts had run into fishing nets and spent some time diving to cut them away – I
don’t fancy that at night and in well over 4km of water below you. Who puts nets
out here anyway, days from anywhere even in a powered vessel, maybe they have
just floated from somewhere else ?
Field Trip, one of the cats has not reported in and I have heard a
number of unanswered calls over the VHF from time to time today from the sister
cat Escapade. I expect they are just out of VHF and AIS range. Pat and I had
watched Deep Water on video the other day – the story of Donald Crowhurst
(voyage of a madman fame) who just jumped overboard in the Atlantic during the
first round the world race – still it would take a leap of imagination for that
to happen on a WCC rally, especially as knowone is single handing, mind you
depends who you have crewing I suppose !
The isolation out here is both very pleasurable and rare these days
and can do strange things to your mind – just look at Murray he is now on the
2nd series of Downton Abbey !
Have to go the wind has backed to West for a minute and we have the
engine off and doing a grand 5.4 knots and better still we are heading in the
right direction.
Stu