Cleone ARC 2024
SITREP 2
Along with most
of the rest of the fleet, we have been heading southwest towards the Cape Verde
Islands but have not yet found the Trade Winds. We have been sailing as well as
burning diesel, and something nearly went bump in the
night!
As predicted by
Chris Tibbs at the Skippers Briefing, the wind has been behind us. For much of
the time there has been too little of it for us to make even steerageway and, in
order to make sensible progress, we have been burning precious fuel. The
traditional sailing directions for seafarers crossing from the Canaries to the
Caribbean is to head south until the butter melts, and then turn west. With this
dictum in mind, Kaya and Louisa have been surreptitiously peering into the
butter-tub at the beginning and end of each watch, little realising that even in
Cleones small fridge, the butter might well remain solid until the Equator.
However, with the aid of ARC provided daily weather forecasts and Grib Files
downloaded from Mailasail, Francesca and the Skipper hope to take a more
scientific approach to making the decision to turn and sail the Great Circle
route directly towards St Lucia. So we are still plodding south-westwards at an
average of less than 5 knots, often under engine alone.
The warm
star-lit night was enlivened by two, neither disastrous but both untoward,
events. The Holding Tank for the Heads, a smelly but important fixture, has a
hand-pump to enable it to be emptied at sea. A nameless but obviously strong
crewmember was enthusiastically carrying out this task when suddenly the
pump-handle came away in their hand. The Skipper kindly pointed out to the
crestfallen strongperson that although unfortunate this was not disastrous, and
that the breakage was the result of poor maintenance rather than mishandling.
Rather more disturbing was a near collision with another yacht at around ten pm.
This yacht, apparently under engine, was seen approaching our port quarter. The
AIS confirmed that she was overhauling us on or very near a collision course.
Persistent calling her on the radio produced no answer, but a powerful torch
beam shone at her finally produced signs of life on deck. At last a
shaky-sounding Skipper called us and announced that he was altering his course
and passing behind us. This near collision reminded us that the most important
rule is always to keep a proper look-out, but it left us pondering what other
lessons could be learned from the event.
Delicious food,
plenty of tea (at any rate for the Skipper) and frequent laughter characterise
our progress; all the signs are that this will remain a very happy
ship.
All aboard are
well, and send very best wishes and love to all of you.
James,
Francesca, Louisa and Kaya
Yacht
Cleone
At
sea
Position at
1200UTC on 26 Nov 2024: N25deg11min:
W017deg34min