Well the Beltana II team have survived the first night. Graham and Johnny
saw in the sunrise through a fair bit if cloud but very pretty they
promised. We all took turns to do a four hour watch with two people on
deck at all times. Winds were light at 10-12 knots and Beltana ploughed on
at 4-5 knots directly downwind or with the wind at about 150 degrees. The
genoa is poled out to port and the main well out rigged with a preventer.
Lovely Italian dinner last night thanks to Paul’s culinary skills with
Lasagne served with a green side salad dressed with balsamic and pure virgin
olive oil.
Johnny saw the first flying fish for the trip (so he claims) so the
fisherman juices have started to flow and the new rod is trawling a decent sized
lure at the moment.
John and Graham successfully fixed the bilge pump yesterday we we have a
nice dry bilge with John the Casson also working on the manual bilge pump to
give it a birthday, but alas that job goes on today as it leaks a bit (stinks
too – bilge will be washed out over the next two days with sea water!!).
Cloudy today still, weather a bit uncertain, we are chasing Boni Venti this
morning. We have about 24 yachts within a 15N mile radius which is great,
all roughly heading the same direction.
Johnny has got some good GoPro stuff happening too but you will not get to
see this till after the finish line.
Please send more wind, going to be a slow day today.
Bye for now Jono R