It has been several days now since we left Yokohama where we made
another stop to take in water and more fuel. Our watermaker does not
work and with 4500 miles of no land ahead of us it is important not to
get too thirsty. I was a bit nervous leaving port with a wobbly mast
limited water supplies and limited fuel supplies whilst knowing that the
fleet has been battered by storms. The toll was one medevac (skipper
with broken leg),one dismating after being rolled by a wave and a
companionway hatch ripped off the deck, steering wheel bent and two
people dangling over the side on the lifelines after a massive wave hit
the boat.
Our approach to the crossing is one of control, not pushing anything and
just getting across swiftly but safely and in time for the next start.
The winds we have had so far have been strong enough to stretch the
steel cables that hold up our mast and we have been tightening it on a
regular basis watching the movement of the mast in all conditions see if
it bends in the right place. The rigging was so stretched at some point
that the mast inverted when we were going downwind quite a spectacle
but not very reassuring: it did make the boat fly though. Hopefully it
is now stretched enough and we have it set correctly for the rest of
the journey.
The other attention lately has been going out to the weather and the
gruesome depressions that have been developing near us. We spent the
last few days monitoring and eventually ducking a massive low that
is creeping up from behind us. In order not to end up on the wrong side
we had to divert nearly 220 miles to the south east. The low now passes
behind us and we are experiencing strong winds from behind us instead
of a hammering 50 knots on the nose. Next challenge is a high pressure
area which follows this low and will be with us in a few days time.
Shall we try and jump this one or duck it or just let it take us over?
We have seen beautifull dolphins playing around the boat despite the
rough weather and we have been in the pooring rain most of the time
since we left Japan. Our generator kicked the bucket last night (it
switched itself off and on restarting a smoke plume developed (hmmm...)
so a good place to dry my socks has vanished. Maybe on the engine block
instead if that's not too hot.
The repair I developed for our torn mainsail seems to be holding up
really well and I am now considering a career in sewing. It is actually
very satifying work. Not the needle pointing stuff but the sewing that
involves hammers and drills and plyers ;-)
To a soggy bunk now...
