We are still deeply stuck in this high pressure area. To liven things up
a bit our steering wheel decided to come off the pedestal which made for
vbery interesting helming: one knee against the axis of the wheel in a
slightly skewed position with one eye on the sail and one on the dials
of the instruments. Not the most accurate way of driving but at least
the wheel stayed in place. In order to fix it we had to take the wheel
off and change to emergency steering. This consists of a short and
inverted tiller placed on top of the rudder stock. It works opposite the
way a tiller works and points in the same directrion as the rudder
blade. This also makes for interesting steering, especially since our
efforts to repair it took enough time to run out of daylight and into
pitch black again. Adding to the fun was the fact that we were
sailing with the big light weight spinaker up and in increasing winds.
Along the way we managed to finmd ourselves in the most spectacular
sunset display ever. The sun was dipping behind the western horizon and
in the process the clouds on the eastern sky turned pink. The pink
clouds created a pink reflection on the waves and the sea turned pink
and blue like a moving caleidoscope. Even the boat and sails turned soft
pink! It lasted for maybe 5 minutes but it was amazing.
Now we are battling 2.5 knots of wind ;-)
Another long 600 miles to go.
