TIMESTAMP=2015-01-09 : 12:00 UTC
LATITUDE=25 24N
LONGITUDE=017 26W
SPEED=5.5
COURSE=220
WIND DIR=NE
WIND SPEED=15-20
WAVE_HT=2-3m
24HR MILES=115
PROPOSED_COURSE=Downwind hard (big waves, strong winds). Will pick best tack based on conditions.
MILES DONE/TO GO:364/2712 (12noon til 12noon)
COMMENTS=Heavy weather. Wanda and The Toad successfully repaired.
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Friday, 9 January 2015
Day 5
Dad was about to do today's blog posting earlier, having found himself with no immediate jobs to attend to, but then using the computer made him feel sick (it is VERY rocky) and then Wanda, the self-steering broke (again) so now I'm picking up again after a delicious lunch of avocado on bread.
It was a wild night again last night, gale-force winds and five metre waves from about 7.30pm onwards. Then a catalogue of near-disasters: Wanda's paddle come up at the same time as the manual steering slipped off it's pulley rendering it useless. We therefore had no steering and were still tearing along in the pitch black! We treble-reefed the genoa to try and keep us in some kind of straight line, I hung off the back of the boat and between us dad and I managed to fix the paddle down again. Dad then managed to get the manual steering back on and mum got us back on track. Eventually getting Wanda working again (after a brief time when the main came out of the gallows), we made a brilliant course, southwest at 5.5-6 knots until morning, leaving us with a new 24-hour record of 122 miles. BOOM!
In other news, I'm well on the way to the predicted 400 leg bruises. Marcus is feeling better every day (bar a short relapse this morning) and the chunder count remains almost inexplicably on zero. It took me 25 minutes to wash up lunch, put away the mayo and make a cup of tea (I also accrued 3 new bruises and smashed an egg during this time). We're still flying along and everyone's pretty chirpy today having had some good sleep after the hour's panic described above.
Today's game was "what are the most useful things on board"? Mum, Marcus and I all independently listed dad as one of the most useful things on board. To say that he's pleased and flattered by the responses is an understatement!
Last night's Haiku:
Minging
Already wet weather gear
Pull on drenched salopettes
Back out to the dark
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It was a wild night again last night, gale-force winds and five metre waves from about 7.30pm onwards. Then a catalogue of near-disasters: Wanda's paddle come up at the same time as the manual steering slipped off it's pulley rendering it useless. We therefore had no steering and were still tearing along in the pitch black! We treble-reefed the genoa to try and keep us in some kind of straight line, I hung off the back of the boat and between us dad and I managed to fix the paddle down again. Dad then managed to get the manual steering back on and mum got us back on track. Eventually getting Wanda working again (after a brief time when the main came out of the gallows), we made a brilliant course, southwest at 5.5-6 knots until morning, leaving us with a new 24-hour record of 122 miles. BOOM!
In other news, I'm well on the way to the predicted 400 leg bruises. Marcus is feeling better every day (bar a short relapse this morning) and the chunder count remains almost inexplicably on zero. It took me 25 minutes to wash up lunch, put away the mayo and make a cup of tea (I also accrued 3 new bruises and smashed an egg during this time). We're still flying along and everyone's pretty chirpy today having had some good sleep after the hour's panic described above.
Today's game was "what are the most useful things on board"? Mum, Marcus and I all independently listed dad as one of the most useful things on board. To say that he's pleased and flattered by the responses is an understatement!
Last night's Haiku:
Minging
Already wet weather gear
Pull on drenched salopettes
Back out to the dark
----------
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Thursday, 8 January 2015
Day 4
A long night as winds continuously strengthened. Took mizzen down in the dark with the boat bucking around as struggling to go right off the wind. One of the ropes driving the windvane steering slipped entailing a wild trip to the back of the boat to re-afix. Waves sloshing over the aft deck as the repair was effected. Some of the biggest waves we've ever seen with white spume flying off their faces. Averaging close to 30k for many hours plus our 5-6k downwind. Plenty of watery visits to the cockpit.
This evening we had another choir practice and it's starting to sound a bit OK. Ate up left over shepherds pie. Just water to drink. Everything is hard work. Making a cup of tea takes about 10 minutes, several new bruises and a lot of cursing. Nevertheless morale remains high though we are tired from last night exertions. Currently wind down to 20-25k though waves are still big.
I leave you with Jenny's limerick..
The Douches and M went to sea
In a boat that was green as a pea
The weather got rough
Conditions were tough
But were we downhearted?
NOT WE!!
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This evening we had another choir practice and it's starting to sound a bit OK. Ate up left over shepherds pie. Just water to drink. Everything is hard work. Making a cup of tea takes about 10 minutes, several new bruises and a lot of cursing. Nevertheless morale remains high though we are tired from last night exertions. Currently wind down to 20-25k though waves are still big.
I leave you with Jenny's limerick..
The Douches and M went to sea
In a boat that was green as a pea
The weather got rough
Conditions were tough
But were we downhearted?
NOT WE!!
----------
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Petronella Position Report
TIMESTAMP=2015-01-08 : 17:25 UTC
LATITUDE=25 24N
LONGITUDE=017 26W
SPEED=5.5
COURSE=255, 195
WIND DIR=NE
WIND SPEED=35-20
WAVE_HT=Up to 5m
24HR MILES=115
PROPOSED_COURSE=Downwind hard (big waves, strong winds). Will pick best tack based on conditions.
MILES DONE/TO GO:364/2712 (12am til 12am)
COMMENTS=Heavy weather. Wanda and The Toad successfully repaired.
----------
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LATITUDE=25 24N
LONGITUDE=017 26W
SPEED=5.5
COURSE=255, 195
WIND DIR=NE
WIND SPEED=35-20
WAVE_HT=Up to 5m
24HR MILES=115
PROPOSED_COURSE=Downwind hard (big waves, strong winds). Will pick best tack based on conditions.
MILES DONE/TO GO:364/2712 (12am til 12am)
COMMENTS=Heavy weather. Wanda and The Toad successfully repaired.
----------
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Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Day 3
SwazSettling into it now. Successes include..
The Toad - generating electricity wherever you are
Wanda - steering you onward to your destination
Communications - keeping you connected
Breakage - main sail batten during attempt to hoist off the wind
Haiku Jen:
Windy
Waves crash in the night
Then you wake with the dawn
One day closer still
20 questions going down well as it doesn't require any flying equipment to play. Marcus up to 4/10 and chunder count still level on zero. Some big waves today with several slopping into the cockpit. Crew all washed finally, naked Douches in the cockit and a more demure Haydog in the saloon. A bit warmer today but still pretty chilly at night.
Deep blue rolling seas splashed with white and the sun glinting off the waves. Magic, but no dolphins today. Shepherds pie for tea though - yummy. Expecting more wind tomorrow. Mainsail batten may stay broken for another day before attempting repair.
Thanks to all for your messages especially Swaz (yesw, it arrived)and Loz for the uplifting chunder puns!!
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The Toad - generating electricity wherever you are
Wanda - steering you onward to your destination
Communications - keeping you connected
Breakage - main sail batten during attempt to hoist off the wind
Haiku Jen:
Windy
Waves crash in the night
Then you wake with the dawn
One day closer still
20 questions going down well as it doesn't require any flying equipment to play. Marcus up to 4/10 and chunder count still level on zero. Some big waves today with several slopping into the cockpit. Crew all washed finally, naked Douches in the cockit and a more demure Haydog in the saloon. A bit warmer today but still pretty chilly at night.
Deep blue rolling seas splashed with white and the sun glinting off the waves. Magic, but no dolphins today. Shepherds pie for tea though - yummy. Expecting more wind tomorrow. Mainsail batten may stay broken for another day before attempting repair.
Thanks to all for your messages especially Swaz (yesw, it arrived)and Loz for the uplifting chunder puns!!
----------
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Petronella Position Report
TIMESTAMP=2015-01-07 : 17:25 UTC
LATITUDE=26 25N
LONGITUDE=016 01W
SPEED=5.5
COURSE=245-260
WIND DIR=NE
WIND SPEED=15-20
WAVE_HT=2-3
24HR MILES=119
PROPOSED_COURSE=Great circle direct to Cape Verdes
MILES DONE/TO GO:247/2792
COMMENTS=Stbd tack at 250 degrees, under mizzen and genoa
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LATITUDE=26 25N
LONGITUDE=016 01W
SPEED=5.5
COURSE=245-260
WIND DIR=NE
WIND SPEED=15-20
WAVE_HT=2-3
24HR MILES=119
PROPOSED_COURSE=Great circle direct to Cape Verdes
MILES DONE/TO GO:247/2792
COMMENTS=Stbd tack at 250 degrees, under mizzen and genoa
----------
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Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Petronella Position Report
TIMESTAMP=2015-01-06 : 17:25 UTC
LATITUDE=27 25N
LONGITUDE=014 31W
SPEED=5.0
COURSE=255
WIND DIR=NE
WIND SPEED=15-20
WAVE_HT=2
24HR MILES=108
PROPOSED_COURSE=Great circle direct to Cape Verdes
MILES DONE/TO GO:129/2893
COMMENTS=Gybing southwest
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LATITUDE=27 25N
LONGITUDE=014 31W
SPEED=5.0
COURSE=255
WIND DIR=NE
WIND SPEED=15-20
WAVE_HT=2
24HR MILES=108
PROPOSED_COURSE=Great circle direct to Cape Verdes
MILES DONE/TO GO:129/2893
COMMENTS=Gybing southwest
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