Isabel - Day 11

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Thursday 12 Noon 3/12/2105
16 24 66 N 47 11 86 W - daily run circa 189 miles - distance to St
Lucia 809 miles

After a relaxing 24 hours + sailing under the "Bird"- yellow Genneker
yesterday with the Bimini up at 10pm it started to change. For sailors
reading this we were running with the genneker as deep as possible with
only a scrap of main out (in mast furling) just to keep the boom steady. The
pilot steers the boat fine even given the lively quartering sea constant
picking the stern up trying to run us off course. As the wind pushes over 25
knots things start go awry as the 30 tonnes of yacht will not accelerate and
plane (see Sunfast 3200, J105 ......or Boomerang!). The result usually ends
up in a round up to windward. For me personally the much flapping of sail
and noise at this point all occurs directly above as I am trying to sleep in
the bow prior to my daily 2am to 6am watch. Midnight and more clouds are
building and James is up to take the helm at times and then more round ups
occur with much flapping of sail........... I am trying to sleep! By 2am
decision has been made to "get it down" and Karver top down furler system
off the bowsprit onto powered winch is put into action. Once furled, lowered
- try not to bang the painted mast, and bagged on the foredeck - we gybed
and set the genoa on the pole goose winged .....about 3am job done. In
amongst this clear dead flying fish found randomly upon the decks. On the
plus side generator running at 3am for a while we had air con to cabins
making a welcome change from the sweat box norm.

Biminigate! The Bimini, canvas cover that keeps the sun off the cockpit
supported on stainless poles, is great to provide shade - crew happy! James
view is that a Bimini is for when at a turquoise Caribbean anchorage, not
for sailing. After the sunshine of yesterday he insisted after dinner the
canvas come down to see the sails - just as well re above. At 4am this
morning he and I packed the poles away him muttering "it better stay down"!
9am today crew want it back up, James is asleep, and has the bolts that hold
the frame in his cabin. Result for today is half the Bimini - and the sun
has not shone much.

Jilly Cooper, Wicked -Today, sooner than anticipated, Hengist has been to
bed with Janna.

Fishing line stowed as we are probably going too fast and no wants to deal
with another fish today.

Chicken Curry tonight creatively concocted by Philip who is for sure the
best cook, and happy chaps 'cos Liverpool thrashed Saints last night. (I'm
not , but it is his boat?)

My choice of music for the afternoon watch was of course the source of
division and criticism - but I don't have any Barry Maniloe, Val Doonican or
Jonny Mattis for the older crew members!

Thanks, for all supporting messages, some have been copied through.

All for now

Mike
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