Day 1: Cartagena to Mazarin (depart November 3rd) total
distance covered 15 miles. resting overnight in Mazarin due to adverse weather
conditions!
Day 2 Set off for Gibraltar. As we entered the straights
of Gib we had gale force winds (50 knots over the boat). Advised by our weather
guru to take shelter in Gibraltar. Parked after very difficult maneuvers
(avoiding air strip) in front of fuel station. The next day, due to time
constraints three crew members departed. Stuck in Gib for five days waiting for
a weather window and for crew to return (one new crew member Tim!) Musical
crew.
Departed gib Nov 7th @ 13:00 hours with sunshine
and great glee! For a short while!
Two days out of Gibraltar we encountered more stormy
weather lasting 36 hours. While putting 2nd reef in mainsail, with both engines
running, a 40 knot gust put main sail halyard over the side ...tangling round
port engine prop (one engine down) While maneuvering boat with starboard engine
the line from the port engine , went under boat and tangled round the starboard
engine (2 engines down). Marvelous! Wet dark and exhausted we decided to heave
to and sit tight until daybreak. Attempts to remove rope in the morning proved
unsuccessful as sea and wind too strong. A bit of luck...the next morning the
wind changed and we could start sailing.
After sailing for 2 days, top speed a heady 5 knots, we
decided to heave to in the lea side of Gracias Island. Ed (our super hero) was
able to cut the lines off both props. The joy was tangible and once we were back
on course decided a beer was in order. Never had a better beer I can tell you!
Clear Sailing at last! Arrived Las Palmas , all engines firing, mainsail halyard
needing replacing but at least did not need a rib to assist us in, so no loss of
street cred.
Once in our berth......registered Easy and yup you
guessed it, 6 solid hours of cold cold beer!
Arc departure has been delayed until Tuesday....gave us
time to replace main sail halyard (Ed again was like a monkey with balls of
steel!). Sadly Ed had to leave unexpectedly...and how we miss him! his cheerful
enthusiasm was one of the main factor in finding humor where most grown men
would have wept! A big setback for me personally but the show goes on! Have
spent the last 4 days working on Easy rider since we got here. No hangovers for
this gal! Watch out St Lucia! Things can only get better! Odds are on my side
here I reckon! God couldn't be that unkind.
Soy.
Captains supplementary log:
Despite the adverse conditions sailing down to Las
Palmas, the food Soy has prepared for us has been fantastic!! She prepared
thirty evening meals
before leaving La Manga which went into the freezer.
Last Sunday we had slow roasted duck, roast potatoes, brocoli & gravy made
from the giblets.....
fantastic!! All the meat was supplied by the best
English butcher in Spain, Missing Link, & our thanks go to Paul & Steph
for both providing the meat & freezing Soy's creations.
We depart tomorrow.....At last!!
David.