As promised, the winds finally abated a tad this afternoon. Also, the swell has reduced somewhat, so conditions have become more comfortable. Which is just as well because all this rolling around our very comfy and safe Amel's axis is not conducive to getting a good kip.
We are now on a heading close to that direct great circle track to St Lucia, and on port tack. So far, the downloaded Grib files via the SSB set have been remarkably accurate. Been trying to receive faxes of Atlantic synoptic charts but atmospheric disturbance has prevented us from getting intelligible versions. Also, we've been out of reach from the daily SSB radio net, although we did hear a couple of Germans giving each other informative advice on weather and routing. Just as well we have our German medic on board although yours truly managed to decipher the Enigma code they were talking in.
Anyway, the grib files are telling us that by tomorrow they should turn to the south east and reduce to 10 to 15 knots. That should be ideal for Parasailor use as well as our big asymmetric kite. We can't wait to use them!
Had a sunset cocktail in the cockpit with a bottle of bubbly to celebrate our half way mark. Now a mere 1400 nautical miles to our destination. Hopefully our cum cocktails are still awaiting us when we finally arrive! Now, as usual, time to hand over to my crew.
Roger
Well the wind has abated a little, so must have finally reached the end of the Wind Acceleration Zone, (see previous log) Reached half way today so celebrated with a bottle of bubbles, very nice thankyou Roger. I think we must all be getting in the Caribbean / relaxed mood as we have changed the watches to single three hour night watches and the cockpit speakers are getting a lot more use.
You can learn a lot about someone by their mp3 shuffle! Star watching as we speak and comparing apps for star identification. Another couple of UFO caught today (see previous log). Little one put back but big one, landed by Ellie, filleted ready for tomorrow. Now only Roger to land one for the set.
Heading due west now, hopefully parasailor tomorrow! all is good. Fish for supper. Pigs leg, which is getting smaller, has moved from mizzen and is now suspended under dinghy in netting but ok. Andy's view don't you know! Trade wind sailing is the dogs sphericals as they say. V pleasant and all is well and generally bowling towards St Lucia.
We've gone to a single watch system and slipped back to Bravo time -2 gmt. Hey diddle diddle guess who got the middle c'est moi aux naturelle. Spent the night with Anton and the pigs leg. Neither had much to say for themselves but left time to contemplate and observe the stars. Very cathartic.
Today Roger went for his now constitutional visit to the swim ladder to fix things. I was overlooked for restraining duties. I put this down to the perhaps over enthusiastic retrieval back onboard I gave him yesterday which left him in no doubt what crotch straps on lifejackets are for. Today he took the rest of the crew instead, but rather alarmingly reduced his clothing to budgie smuggler level. I inadvertently hung around hoping for a 'You've been framed moment' but despite some great photos it didn't materialise. Fishing continues with success. Roger has out Collinsed me with his field guide to reef fishes which has at last identified the UFO. Tonight we dined on a good portion of Coryphanidae which I believe is latin for fish supper. The carefully planned deployment of the parasailor was unfortunately thwarted by an ever increasing wind which led to a few teddies being ejected from prams with both ears chewed off, but after time out in neutral corners all was quickly put right. That's sailing. For the uninitiated parasailor is a commercially produced downwind sail variant of a cruising chute 'with benefits' and not as one of our Antibodean coARC participants believed, some charity assisting the less physically able, as welcome as they would be to give advice on flying the bloody thing.The halfway stage was recognised in style with a cockpit 'sundowner' and an eclectic classic rock mix from roger's album collection. More for Youtube.
Sailing on
Andy..out