Saturday 28th/
Sunday 29 November
Well this has certainly not been the sort of Sunday we are
used to at home.
We have been going a bit more slowly but that means we are
making water, which is great for the feeders, as they seem to like
showers. Some of them had a lovely
evening listening to opera and hand steering and some of them were a bit
frustrated that we were not going faster – we had the slowest 24 hour period
yet (who cares?)
Tina says it is more important to arrive safely than fast –
some of the boys don’t agree!! They have
been mucking around with the clock again with is more feeder oddness – why are
they doing that – isn’t the time, the time?
Dinnertime and Poo time and cuddle time – I don’t understand what is
going on but we are now GMT-2 what ever that means!
As they worked together in the afternoon and evening of
yesterday things were pretty calm – like the weather. There were flying fish and birds and everyone
was on deck chatting and playing games and just having a relaxed time. It was lovely to see the feeders having some
time out. They are happy that they are
making water – more weirdness. How can they MAKE water?
They had Spag Bol for dinner – no chicken – what a
shame. I am thinking that this is my new
forever – I have learned to relax and I can even lean and bend while we are
rolling about – the feeders think it is really funny that I am good at it but
that is crazy as of course I am good at it – four legs are much better than
two.
As they got ready to have their dinner they turned on the
Nav lights, the Genoa was part furled out (remember it is not working well) and
the Main Sail was full. There was a
gentle roll to the sea and the air was warm.
I can remember lots of lovely relaxed Sundays with all my family
and friends around and lots of delicious bits of roast meat that come my
way. Today I did get looked after really
well and had some treats – I also had a lovely walk at the pointy end this
morning. It was sunny and warm and there
were some more of my favorites – the flying fish skimming along – some going
our way and a lot were going the other way – I wonder what they eat or where
they sleep or where they are going?
The water seems to be getting bluer and bluer and the people
say it looks like thick, molten blue glass and they think it is very beautiful.
Like other days – this day was a rollercoaster too – more
incidents and issues.
The first thing was that the wind had dropped too much and
there was no speed. We are apparently
heading South (what ever that is?) so that we can find more wind. The people said they thought they would put
up the ‘scary black sail’ but then the Genoa is stuck and they cannot get it
down – what I heard was that ‘the halyard is wrapped around the forestay and
the top furler unit is damaged beyond repair’ This means that they cannot furl in
the Genoa (not sure what one of those is but I think it is the smaller white
flappy thing at the pointy end) The feeders are concerned about this because if
there is a squall then they will need it down fast and they can’t . I hate it when they are concerned – I can’t
relax.
The hole in the main sail seems to be holding with the tape
that Nisse and Simon put on. So that is
good and they have –“made water” how amazing is that!!
They didn’t put up the scary black sail, which is good
because following lunch the most fierce, dark squall seemed to be hunting us
down. It looked dark and angry. Then…Mark – (that is my owner) said “right
we need to sort this Genoa issue out, so I will go up the mast” my other owner,
Tina was upset and said she wasn’t happy about it at all. Mark is very brave, Tina is not. I will look after her.
Simon and Mark stood at the big silver stick for a long time
looking up and discussing what to do.
Then Mark got into a big blue nappy (I told you people are weird) and
put something strange on his head – he also put on his life jacket and tether
and the others attached a piece of strong string to him. The boat was rolling and the big silver stick
thingy was moving – a LOT. His friends
pulled Mark up the – mast and Tina was so scared that she stayed in the galley
and washed and cleaned everything – she sang songs and then cleaned the
floor. I looked after Tina, as she was
scared when she heard Mark shouting, “stop” or “go”. She didn’t like it at all
when she heard the others say “get him down now – a squall is coming”
Mark was very, very brave and went right to the top of the mast and cut the
halyard. When he came down again he had
hurt his arm – but he is tough and after he had some ice on it he was ok. I love Mark.
I forgot to tell you that Tina is sometimes brave too as she has broken
a toe and is managing well with it even though it is a very funny colour. My feeders are also all covered in dark marks
and Tina says she looks like she is turning into a Dalmatian. I think they said
they were bruises – but I don’t have any.
Mark had a cup of tea and a rest when he was safely down – he looked
like he needed it. Trouble is that he
may have to go to the top of the mast again tomorrow as what he did didn’t entirely
work. Tina will be cleaning the floor
again!
Then it was calm sailing again until they decided to mess
about with the Genoa again.
Next thing that happened one of the feeders pulled a big
piece of string on one of the silver domes –(they are very expensive and shiny
– made by Lewmar and Tina says they are Carbon on the top (which is good
apparently??) - It went “twang” in that horrible way that
makes all the feeders stop and look stressed – it broke the top of the
“Starboard Electric Winch” The list of broken things is growing for the feeders
and now they have begun to list what needs to be fixed when we get to Rodney
Bay.
Tina says that at the parties in Las Palmas the people talk
was all about what had been fitted to boats and what preparations had been done
– she thinks that at the Rodney Bay parties the talk will be all about what was
broken on the way.
It does seem that the poor feeders have some drama every
single day – but I am just enjoying the movement of the boat, the treats and
cuddles – the stars and warm winds and talking to the flying fish.
They are about to have a lovely supper of Chili Con Carne
with Rice and earlier they had cake and tea – they are talking about how the
only engine time since we left last week has only been 90 minutes and that was
today – apparently they are happy about
that – don’t know why. 90 minutes in 7
days is apparently good but they are saying that the next day or two may have
light winds – but the forecast seems to have underestimated the wind – how odd
this talk is.
Some of them watched a movie after dinner – they are hand
steering as on the bearing they are on (get me learning sailing talk) the auto
helm doesn’t work as the flux gate compass is stuck at 225 – yes another thing
on the list
I have to go now as it is almost 1am and Tina and Mark are
on watch while I write. I think they
find it odd to watch me typing and Tina is about to come down below to write
the Log entry which they do every hour.
She will write that we are sailing at 7.5knots, our course is 240, the
wind speed is 13kn and that our new address is
21.40.68 N
35.55.45 W
I like sailing.
I think the feeders are planning a party for half way –
which is tomorrow. That will be good and some time for them to think about the
good things and not just all the expensive bits that are breaking.
List of broken things
·
Starboard Electric Winch
·
Furler at the head of the Genoa
·
Track (Foil) for the Geona which is now twisted
·
2 bowls
·
2 lines that are chafed – they were brand new
·
3 blocks that exploded
·
Flux Gate Compass that is stuck on 225
·
2 holes in the Main Sail – currently stuck
together with tape
·
Bow Thruster (got fouled on the start day and
now doesn’t work)
Injuries
1x Broken Toe – Tina from the deck
1x bashed left fore arm – Mark from the Mast
multilple bruises – everyone
They are all minor things and Tina is the ships doctor and
she has a lot of ‘stuff’ to make everyone better – I just cuddle them.