07/12/14 12:00 UTC
DIST SAILED: 2100 nm
DIST TOGO: 404 nm
PRESENT SET: GENOA REACHING
This has been an extremely busy day, and the log has therefore been delayed. The advantage for you good readers is that I can extend the storyline into the afternoon.
This morning we were sliding along on a SSE wind of 12-15 knots, genoa reaching with AWA around 100. That has pretty much been the picture for the last 24 hours. Optimising speed with intense concentration on the helm pays. The helmsman is required to ‘sail’, not ‘steer’, a huge difference in these conditions, requiring fingertip feeling and constant eye on wind, angle and course. I am really proud of how well CoCo is sailed at all times. A sacrifice for the crew has been a ban on fishing due to the drag it creates. The deck union ‘Spirit’ has opened a case on the issue and will no doubt seek some compensation.
Looking at the noon position today, we were somewhat happy. We had managed to gain on quite a few of the boats ahead, and keeping the smaller boats in the back at bay.
At 05:00 hrs ship time this morning we made a last attempt to repair the spinnaker. We came to remember a huge roll of something called Gorilla Tape tucked away somewhere. This product is not made for sails, but it is immensely strong, and it’s full of glue. Out of other options, we decided to give it a go. The workshop filled the saloon and lasted for five hours and voila! – we have a (very) light wind sail to be used in a wind hole somewhere close to the finish. We have tested it briefly, and it flies. But the conditions this afternoon were not soft enough to let it hang. Special credit should be given to Sebastian – he had just finished a six hour night watch and didn’t balk for a second when contemplating to undertake this task.
Just after noon the wind started to go in circles. An enormous squall the size of Telemark passed us, with wind from all directions and an unexplainable amount of water coming out of it. We were brought to a full stand still whilst the showers just kept coming and coming. All by a sudden the whole scenario started to look a bit like Færderseilasen. The squall passed, but left a very weak and indecisive Passat behind, so right now we’re just bouncing around on an old swell with less than 10 knots of wind and a boat speed not worth mentioning. Our electronic charting system continuously gives us ETA St Lucia based on present speed, and you do not want to hear what it reads right now. We neither, we are just hoping for the Passat to return and stabilise.
We are still alone out here. We may look to be in a swarm of boats on the plot, but in real life the distances are so big that since day two or three we have not seen any other boats. The AIS screen was full for a few days, but since then our 48 n.m. range is not enough to spot anything. As we now approach and boats converge into the same final run, things could be different. The tension and excitement is definitely on the rise.
In the sunny and good progress conditions we had yesterday Ola made it his responsibility to clean and polish the entire interior of CoCo. This was conducted in two consecutive operations; firstly, a bit of water and a cloth, secondly, teak oil rubbing. It looks great and he has now kindly re-instated the important layer of protective fat on the teak surfaces.
Yesterday’s chef was Henrik, making delicious chicken pasta. The setting was still the al fresco section of Atlantic Moonlight, where they have a table for 6. Today the restaurant was closed for lunch due to the weather, and it does not look too promising for dinner either.
The forecast is for even lighter winds as we approach St Lucia. So our Tuesday arrival, although maintained basis present speed, may still turn out to be Wednesday.
All well and spirits high!
P.S.: A request for photos has been made. This request will go unanswered until our arrival in Saint Lucia. There is only so much one can upload via a satellite phone.
Caribbean Expedition 2015 