Voyageur - Day 5 - 9th May
Sailing at
last!
At one o’clock in the morning, our fourth night at sea,
a light breeze filled in from the north east. The engine was silenced, up went
full sails, the horrible lumpy seas of the last few hours caused by a cross
swell eased, and now come dawn we are still sailing and have 300nm to go. Not
breaking any records, our average speed is around five knots in ten to eleven
knots of true wind but as long as we can keep going in a northerly direction
under sail power alone we are more than happy. Oh, the joy of sailing. I had
almost forgotten how pleasurable it can be, why indeed we choose to do this. In
celebration I broke out some blueberry buns to have with our morning coffee I
had been hoarding them for just such an occasion. Herb’s forecast has been spot
on. As if on cue at 27 degrees north the wind went up a notch, now we have
fifteen coming from the east. What a difference it is to feel her hull moving
through the water as we clock off the miles. But we will have to keep this if we
are to reach our destination by mid-day on Friday. The stopover in Bermuda is
brief, only four days, so we have to make the most of it. The further north we
sailed the winds increased, swung round to east then south east. The skies
clouded, lunch was baked potato piled with baked beans and topped with cheese,
perfect for a grey day. As the day wore on however the sun put in an appearance
once more and we luxuriated in the warmth of its rays. Last night was colder
still and we are now both wearing fleeces on watch. For the first time since the
start in the last twenty four hours we have not sighted another rally yacht but
there is still the occasional ship to keep us watchful, now totalling eight.
Most of the fleet are now enjoying the long waited wind conditions however we
heard on the evening listening watch of one with a broken engine stuck in the
doldrums. Supper once more was taken on our laps served in our deep bowls,
leftover lamb made into a curry.
Susan
Mackay
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