Yesterday
and today has been about dealing with the weather. We've consistently had 28
knots of wind, with gusts up to 35 knots. The seas have been 3 meters, with up
to 4 meters. It’s been mostly wet with sideways drizzle and the occasional
heavy downpour.
The main
has 3 reefs and the jib is also reefed. Still, we’re travelling at 7-9 knots,
constantly surfing. The crew is thrown all over the boat and it is a struggle
to stay in one place. Cooking presents a particular challenge as pots can (and
do) go flying as the boat careens down the faces of waves.
Still, our
skipper Will insists that this is not heavy weather. This would be normal
conditions for a sail in the Solent (an area in Southern England popular among
sailors), he says.
And he’s
right. This is not at all too much for the boat and crew. With reefed sails, we
are still chugging along. OK, it would be great to have sunny skies and a bit
calmer seas. But they will come.
At least
we’re not motoring!