The weather systems in the Pacific are not playing their usual game.
Instead of being propelled eastwards by means of a series of fearsome
low pressure areas we are being slowed down by high pressure areas that
are way too far North to give us favourable winds. Instead they give us
headwinds if any wind at all. Luckily there is so much to do on the boat
that a little down time is not too bad. We spent 2 out of the last 3
days working on the boat with the mainsail down and the engine on to
keep us going towards San Francisco. We made progress on both fronts. As
chief sailmaker on board I had the fantastic task of mending a tear
caused by the professional repair job done on a tear sustained when we
broke our mast . Get it? The patch sown over a rip in our sail when we
were in QIngdao has put so many tiny holes ion our stretched sailcloth
that when we put a reef in and the material got tensioned it
immediatelky tore at the seam of the repair. Thus I devised an
alternative method of repair, already tested on a similar tear repaired
previously, amd went to work. 7 hours in total with two people working
on it and the problem and a future problem were solved. The main went up
and then you realise what a monstrous mainsail we have. (despite the
fact that I think it is a bit small for the the weight of this boat) Our
repair which took ages to put in looks like a tiny spec on our sail! I
hope we never get a proper rip in it having experienced these small
tears twice now...
Anyway the sail is back up and having a full main instead of a double
reefed one does make a massive difference in our speed. We are sailing
again and 10 knots are on the clocks at a regular rate. Just over 1000
miles to go.
The weather has been interesting. The highs do tend to be a bit dryer
than the fronts we have had to deal with the last few weeks.
Condensation has left the ceiling and I no longer sleep under a
"dripping tap". Everything including socks and foulies is getting dryer.
The temperatures have dropped considerably though. Water is down from 17
degrees to 13 degrees centigrade and this does have an effect on the
overall temperatures outside. So despite the dryer conditions we are
still wrapped up in layers. This is cause of concern though. Being
fully kitted up does not make it easy to move around. With hat and
scarf and hood up, boots on and midlayers and full foulies I feel like I
am moving around like the men on the moon. Every step feels weird and
unsure and unsteady, my senses are numbed by lack of hearing and all
round view. driving is like playing a computer game. Only visual aids and
no senses of wind on the cheek, the sound of a gust. It's like being in
a cocoon and watching the world instead of being part of it. BUt
with temperatures that feel like the first cold autumn or winter,(the
kind that is chilly and makes your nose and hands freeze instantly but
does smell really fresh) morning I cannot bear to wear less. Bring on
shorts and t-shirt sailing!
