Day4 local time 11pm, 05:00UTC
pos 6deg20S, 94deg00W
course: approx 225deg
Sea is rough.
Fuel hours available is 90hrs.
water tank is FULL!!!
By 6am this morning we had a lovely 12 knot SE wind. Shimmi was skipping along merrily at 7 knots going up to 8 knots when the wind goes to 15 knots. Was this the trade winds? We thought so and almost started high fiving. Almost sort of but not quite. By 12pm the wind was dropping so much that we started motorsailing again, bummer. The sea has gotten worse. Big chops and bumps with a solid south west ground swell running underneath it. During the afternoon the wind would start and stop and we would switch the engine on and off accordingly, probably doing around half of the afternoon with an engine. By midnight tonight we would have run an engine for 7 hours over the past 24, not too bad for doldrums cruising. I changed the gear oil in the starboard engine as it was on its way to becoming milky. Will have to do a 'seals job' on that one at some point in the future.
By 8pm we got hit by our first proper rain squall which filled the water tank within an hour. The wind swung around, from S to E, it topped out with an apparent wind on shimmi of 18 knots (14 knots true) and we were doing 9 knots on the gps for about a half hour or so. Then the squall moved past and for a while there was no wind (furl the jib AGAIN, rig preventer on boom). But within 5 minutes the wind was back. This time it was an 8 knot tail wind. Aaaargh. So i change course to bring it onto our beam etc etc blah blah. All this happens in pitch dark, no moon, it is FAARKEN DARK, just rain stinging you in the face and the boat lurching around under your feet. Not lekker. No way Chantal and Andy will get much sleep in the 2 forward cabins. We have rigged safety lines to which we clip ourselves. To top of this uncomfortable wet and dark scenario, I am sitting in the saloon at 2330 blowing up baloons (24) for Josh's Birthday tomorrow. I also wrapped and decorated a few prezzies. He will be adding to his collection of supers the following: Zurg (a baddie, Buzz's mortal enemy and cousin of Darth Vader), Batman (no introduction required, he is usually a goodie but having a black cozzie he sometimes joins the baddies), Kung Fu Panda (a goodie anti hero). Batman and the Panda are soft, excellent for hitting Indie over the head the with. These toys were pre-bought in Panama.
Andy is unfortunately seasick again. The kids had a good day, Josh and I had a solid Lego session with Seymour the Shark (baddie) eventually destroying Mr Incredible. Dinner was pasta/pesto, a rough weather (and good weather) favorite. Still no fish despite 5 lines out the back. Long, short, rapala, skirt, teazer, flasher, you name it. Just a flying fish grave yard on the trampoline. I am going to rig up the next one ballyhoo style (hook hangs out the belly, wire leader through the head), hold thumbs for a yellow fin tuna.
Ok... feeling queezy.
Ciao
G
ps Who is Buzz? Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger is our shimmi mascot. 'To infinity and beyond!!!' is his motto.
-------------------------------------------------
