Mischief - Log Day 19: Squalls, squalls and yet more squalls, Bruises, Wendy has a bed day, the benefits of carrots.

8 December 2017 1000 Position 14 degs 22.3'N 055 degs 42.2'W

Well last night started off looking a bit squally and indeed we dropped the spinnaker early due to one nasty looking one that passed us by. But then they started, one after the other with not a huge amount of wind initially although enough in the third one across the decks to part the strop we had tied onto the clew of the genoa to accommodate a separate guy. This meant a trip to the foredeck for yours truly to tie another one and in doing so had the spinnaker pole swing in and smash into my arm with so much force I nearly bent the pole: rough and tough up on the bow! Bruised.

We had squall after squall with torrents of rain. Around midnight with squall clouds all around, the wind got sucked off the surface and we effectively started drifting about. Given that the forecast had said we were to have wind tonight which is due to increase and remain until St Lucia we were not too pleased to say the least!! Indeed with boat speed down to 2 knots and the wind going cyclonic (all over the place) we actually resorted to the engine and headed off on a direct track to destination at 6 knots as we couldn't stand drifting about and being rained on. I started to take it personally I must admit! After three hours under motor the gradient breeze kicked back in and started to build as promised, just a bit late, and was soon blowing 19-21 knots North Easterly. There was a lot more too in the squalls. We put a reef in the mainsail and careered off downwind at 7-9 knots - that's more like it! But the waves have increased in height and are confused causing us to roll heavily but we're not complaining as at last we have a lot of wind in the right direction and we are now making significant progress, despite a very occasional broach.

Dave and I were called back on deck at 0430 as the strop on the genoa had gone again - the rope was just not strong enough, and Neal and Dave went off to fix it. They managed to dispense with the strop altogether and hooked the guy into the clew of the sail direct, a much better solution. However, the genoa had become tangled up with the sheets flogging in the wind and one of them clouted Neal around the ear, and he was feeling very sorry for himself when he got back into the cockpit; he was wet through, his ear was sore, he had cut his fingers and been hit on the forehead by something, probably Dave trying to explain a finer point. Bruised. Apparently the beatings will continue until morale improves!

As the night drew on the squalls continued. We could see them on radar but there were too many to avoid and so Neal and Alf were treated to regular dousings before Dave and I came on for our shift at 0600 and managed to avoid most of them by pure luck. On next change of watch the rain started and there were Alf and Neal dripping again. After yet another deluge it was suggested that this might be the right time to put the ship's clock back another hour.....the timing was perfect; the result was entirely predictable and entirely unrepeatable. I am certain Alf has gained a few more words for his Anglo-Saxon lexicon of the English language (Devonshire edition) to assist him in his English Finnishing school.

At 1300 Dave and I came on deck and the sun came out again, if only briefly, with much mumbling from the offwatch as they dripped their way below. At this point we have been creaming along for much of the night and all morning as the wind has increased to 20-25 knots and more in gusts. The boat is managing to surf on the rising waves at 11 knots at times and we have had to reef in the genoa to take the pressure off the self steering which is working double overtime. The ETA in Rodney Bay calculated by the chart plotter is presently registering arrival Sunday mid-morning/early afternoon but occasionally on a roller coaster ride over a wave it is registering Saturday evening briefly (it's a function of speed over ground), but realistically at these average speeds we should be in Sunday am sometime, in time for Church.

Because of the continual rain all morning everything on deck is damp and nothing is drying out as the air is a bit humid. I have been wearing a pair of shorts which have been damp for two days and ever time I sit down on deck they get wet again - I have a permanently wet backside! Very unpleasant.

Wendy though has decided that the cockpit is not for her today. She has had a 'bedroom day'. I don't blame her, although she is missing some spectacular sailing. However, she must be rolling about up in the forepeak like a pin ball in a pin ball machine so she is not missing all the fun.

We had the last of the carrots this evening in a bacon hotpot which ought to help everyone on watch see the squalls which are sure to return, but Dave is secure in the knowledge that all the electronics on board will be sufficient to give ample warning of their approach as it is as dark as imaginable until the moon rises which won't be until 1130ish tonight. Over reliance on electronics is folly; eat carrots!! At least we will be able to see the chart plotter better for them.

So on we plunge into the dark abyss with about 230 miles to go as at 2000 this evening, doing 7-11 knots over ground and all thankfully in the right direction. Lets hope that tonight is not quite the 'challenge' of last night, but I have a feeling it might........especially as I've just stubbed my toe on the corner of a door and have, no doubt, yet another bruise.

Hi Ho!!

Charlie