The greek, if i remember well from my school days, call it "moira zeon", a punishment inflicted by the gods to humans that committ the sin of "ubris" i.e. believing they can be happier and better than the gods. i must have had a lot of that in me today, sailing free towards the start of the race, windy but just so good.
After Portland bill i tacked southwest again and was sailing ok in the chop and 25 knots of wind. i noticed the lashing of the inner forestay had come undone so i went forward to attend to it. as i was lashing it down again to the base of the windward shrouds i notice the U bolt that keeps the shroud attached to the deck plate was cracked open and only those same gods that inflicted their moira zeon know how it had not parted altogether already, the U bolt is so badly damaged that it could have let go any second which i guess would have meant the mast coming down buckling in half... but, but, i did notice, by chance, so perhaps it was not punishment but warning. I tacked right away to relieve the U bolt from the load and the chart plotter showed i could get into torbay bay... so after a little more sailing now i'm motoring the last 10 miles with just a triple reefed main to stop the roll, the wind is only 15 knots now.
I called up the marina at brixam from the satellite phone (no need really, but i have never actually used it so it was a chance to test it) to see if there is a rigger before committing to the 20 miles distance i still had to cover... Atlanic something, yes there is one. So, hopefully i can sort it in the morning and be off soon after. By the way, the idea of a nice sleep in harbour does not seem so bad. I cant but think how disappointing and frustrating would have been to have the same happening in the middle of the bay of biscay.
Ciao,
Marco
British Beagle
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