25/06/2009, 370nm SW of Union Hall
Here is Max, to tell how it is for a sixteen year old:
So far we have covered over 800nm and I have experienced many different things, from 60 ft whales 50 meters away, to roaring winds and powerful seas. It took me a few days to get settled into 'life at sea', but as soon as I grew a pair of 'sea legs' I found it much easier to move around the boat to trim the sails etc. After yesterdays 8+ kts average boat speed, today has been an entirely different story the ocean has been a Millpond meaning we have had to motor, with all sails setting, from 1200 onwards. A big thank you to Granny for the excellent 'Pre-made meals' which have been lovely! (I think you should open a restaurant). We are just about to sit down to a nice Chili with a coleslaw salad.
|
Comments [0]
24/06/2009, 525nm SW of Union Hall, Ireland
The crew want to add a postscript to today's Sailblog; thanks Pat for the superb beef stew eaten with relish in the cockpit; Max produced his excellent creamed spuds - morale good, all OK on board.
|
24/06/2009, 45 22.0'N:20 03.0'W
Grand sailing at 8 knots+ for last 24 hours; hard going on the crew, but they all responded well, turning out cheerfully for their Dog Watches and doing their duty keeping the ship safe. After 35 years offshore sailing, your scribe made his best ever 24 hour run. Our GRIB weather charts have so far been extraordinarily accurate; the crew hope the promise of easier winds tomorrow will work out - we could all do with a break.
So far, so very good.
24hr Run: 191nm (averaging 7.95kts)
|
23/06/2009, 43 53.7'N:22 30.6'W
A very good day; as promised by GRIB US the wind backed into the Northwest, meaning freed sheets and the joy of 8 knots (max 9.1kt) on course for Union Hall.
Skipper Peter was looking for a 'Challenge'; looks like our challenge is to stay ahead of a developing LOW, packing 30 knot easterlies on Friday/Saturday. We are currently riding the back of a LOW 1013mb at 45N,18W. Mr GRIB forecasts we keep this sweet northwesterly breeze through Thursday. The trick will be to maintain this excellent boat speed to stay well east of the next LOW 1001mb at 47N,22W on Friday, deepening to 995mb by Saturday.
Inshallah, we will make our approach to Ireland in moderate southeasterlies. Come on Family, get out your prayer mats pleeese!!
Days Run: 155nm
|
23/06/2009, 43 53.7'N:22 30.6'W
A very good day; as promised by GRIB US the wind backed into the Northwest, meaning freed sheets and the joy of 8 knots (max 9.1kt) on course for Union Hall.
Skipper Peter was looking for a 'Challenge'; looks like our challenge is to stay ahead of a developing LOW, packing 30 knot easterlies on Friday/Saturday. We are currently riding the back of a LOW 1013mb at 45N,18W. Mr GRIB forecasts we keep this sweet northwesterly breeze through Thursday. The trick will be to maintain this excellent boat speed to stay well east of the next LOW 1001mb at 47N,22W on Friday, deepening to 995mb by Saturday.
Inshallah, we will make our approach to Ireland in moderate southeasterlies. Come on Family, get out your prayer mats pleeese!!
|
22/06/2009, 42 20.3'N:25 22.2'W
At 1000 this morning after two days of hard pounding to windward, the winds backed into the North (as forecast by GRIB US). So it was good for morale to be on course for Union Hall, reefed main & full genoa, sheets just eased, romping along at 7.5kts. A classic grey Atlantic today, but good visibility; as I write the 572ft Tanker 'Maracas Bay' is two miles to port on a reciprocal course for Pt Lisas and the 845ft MSC 'England' is 15nm to starboard; busy place this afternoon.
With Max fully recovered after his long night journey out to Horta, we have settled into a five man watch; each man is on watch for two hours (overlapping with one other, so always two on watch), then he has three hours off; seems to be working well. There is so much for a new crew to learn in the working of the ship; there has been a marked preference for steering on the autopilot rather than with 'Nigel' our Hydrovane. Of course, a relationship must be established with 'Nigel' - perhaps if I rename the Vane 'Nigella' the crew will be keener on getting to know her!
Days Run: 137nm
All OK on board
|
