Saturday 8th December – Paula Rosa
Could this be the last blog J or do I tell you what its like to get our feet onto steady ground?
Well it’s been a long and frustrating 72 hours, some very glum faces.
Early last night the wind returned and we turned the stink off (after 3 hours – motoring will be added to our high handicap, I’m afraid I cant explain how its all worked out especially with that naughty Umiko!) Sails were hoisted back up (main and jib, as there were probably a few more squalls to get through) speed wise averaging 8knots! David and I got pretty wet, not cold though, we had 28 knots under the dark edge of a monster. Few stars for us, luckily we had a brilliant diamond show the night before.
This morning Wills is very keen to go for it on the last push as can you believe (you have probably already seen that Bugia Blanca has overtaken us and Nica are catching up rapidly – they obviously didn’t have our no wind scenario !!) or he might just be very keen to get back to lovey Lulu! Anyway he is not alone, the boys are champing at the bit and after more discussion we have decided to fly the kite for a last fling now that we have more consistent winds (18-21knots) the race is on again! The waves have picked up again and we are surfing once more.
I have forgotten to tell you in the blog that Sarah, my lovely sister insists on every sea passage we must make an offering to Neptune (King of the seas), I promise we did, Wills and I on the back of the boat, I just hope he was happy with Euros, he has looked after us all so far, only minor injuries and if he could just keep the patches going on the asymmetric and no more spangles for a bit longer that would be wonderful!
Chris had a lucky escape last night, he was easing out the main sheets after hoisting the sail when Auto Al threw in a naughty gybe, fortunately Nick saw what was happening and Chris got out of the way but not without catching his hand, forearm, nose and knee – fortunately nothing serious but he will definitely have a few painful bruises. Apart from a few stubbed toes and my little finger which is rather swollen and bruised but getting less painful as the days go by we have all done very well.
I forgot to tell you yesterday we at last we caught a fish , after quite a lot of trying and lost lures, they are pretty clever those fish, maybe because we were going so slowly! Wills reeled him in, such a beautiful one, a dorade, seems rather sad but I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t say it was very good for last nights supper! Nick improvised with a hook and line and caught 3 unknown small fish we are having them for lunch today – I’ll let you know what they were like?
Since the asymmetric has been up we are crashing, swirling, hooshing along once more, average 11.5 knots, you cant say we aren’t trying
Bugia seems to be making a better course but its not over……..till the fat lady sings (Wills has just asked me to start singing – such a rude boy, he promises it was a joke!!)
The usual discussions are now taking place – when to gybe…. We don’t really want to have to be doing it in the dark but no doubt about it the crack bows team have had plenty of practice and with the cockpit gang managing the helm and sheets lets hope it all goes smoothly for hopefully the last few!
Its so strange to think we might now arrive in St Lucia this evening after all, we have made good progress today so far, hopefully its worth taking the risk to keep pushing boat and crew – we have all worked hard and to our capacity as a non professional crew, best of all we’ve pretty much enjoyed it all!
Gybe calling…
So slick, its so good when it goes well and so bad when it doesn’t!!
I feel euphoria setting in, Eileen has just put a couple of bottles of fizz in the fridge, cant wait!
Our final gybe executed perfectly, a beautiful evening sail, the sun is going down – Land ahoy, Martiniuqe, the first glimpse of land.
We have just heard Bugia calling in on the VHF, well done them they have done brilliantly.
All we have to do now is get the asymmetric down for the final time and head for pigeon point, St. Lucia.
Over and out for the final evening at sea, you have tracked us for so many miles, we are nearly there, the first lights are appearing over St.Lucia, we will raise a glass to everyone back home, you all know who you are!
Much more salty than when we first set out
Dee, David, Wills, Chris, Nick, Pete, Pol, Sergio and Eileen x