Ship’s Log Week Four
Location: Atlantic Ocean, Tropic of Cancer - 23.135327, -21.363517
Ups and downs on the ocean waves.
A brief weekly update in the small window of access to the internet. Progress has been good, challenges many.
We are currently sailing day and night with a poled-out foresail, which is easy to manage and is enabling us to make speeds of, on average, 6 knots (or 6 miles, more or less an hour).
In two days we have covered 10% of our journey to St Lucia. Our current estimated time of arrival is 24th December. Arrival will be the best Christmas present ever.
Yesterday (7th December - Arie, Dicky’s grand-daughter’s 2nd birthday – Happy birthday, Arie) the engine failed to start. The engine enables us to charge the batteries, which in turn enables us to use the watermaker, have the lights on and use the internet - most importantly have auto-pilot on too.
We are now operating an emergency back up plan - don’t use auto-helm; hand steer with one hour watches (it’s very tiring in the big seas of an ocean). Limited in any internet usage; washing up in sea water (adds an interesting flavour). Washing in seawater - grim - big thank you to Trish and Richard for the appropriate shampoo.
We are now in the Tropic of Cancer - gradually turning to direct westward bound. Film and photo updates will next be from St Lucia (can’t wait). We’ve had two flying fish and a bird land on board.
We’re thinking of you as you prepare for Christmas. I will be hanging the one Christmas decoration that came with us, a gift, thank you, Lynn.
Until next time...