Scary scary!!

So the gale/storm was worse than anticipated. Mucho infact. I really wish I had wind instruments so that I can tell you exactly how windy it was. I could swear it was more than 35kn true, but then again with the apparent on top (40 maybe) I guess that would seem about right. The seas were something else. The Atlantic swell has always been described to me as having a much longer wavelength than on the continental shelf, but I haven't really noticed much. Maybe I was imagining a much more pronounced change.

As the wind kicked in so the amount of water coming over the top of the roof increased and therefore so my boat filled with water. My attach on the companionway hatch with sikka flex some days ago appears to have been futile. I guess it was the thought that counts.

Never had quite so much water in the boat which was scary to say the least. Bailing out took some hours and it was always frustrating to watch a bucket load come in just as a bucket load was going out. Didn't realise quite how wet it could be in here.

Then disaster! During one particularly huge wave one of my leecloth clips broke and out tumbles my box of precious books into the flood waters.... Absolute heartbreak. IT hurts to damage a second or third read book, never mind the 3 UNTOUCHED ones I had in there. Devastation.... Worse was to come!

Sitting below in the dry I noticed that the boat was heeling over to angles that were not normal and I could hear the headsail flogging horribly. AS I poked my head out the companionway hatch to investigate a large wave filled my oilies. Nice. Then I saw what had happened - the bolt rope of the foresail had ripped out of the heeadfoil. Disaster. This meant dropping the jib, attempting to drop it onto the deck, massive fail and into the water, scrampling onto the foredeck (clipped on of course) dragging sail out of the water (harder than it looks) securing sail, and assessing damage. I have lost the bottom 2 inches of the head foil - which may be a problem since this is where the sail feeds in... I regrouped in the wet cabin to think things trough. Progress as still acceptable under main alone. At this point a phone call arrives from dad, asking if I was ok. "Yes" I replied "Been better of course, coz the weather sucks". Okay replies dad "Only your EPIRB has gone off, they are diverting a tanker to you!"

Holy Moley. My Epirb I stored in my grab bag in the driest part of the boat - I feel this emphasises the current saturated state of my current living conditions. My first thought was of the fright I had caused my mother... I felt so guilty! But still. Having spoken to US Coastguard, Race Officials (all still healthly) sponsor (also still alive) and of course worried parents, I assured them that I didn't quite require rescuing unless there was pizza on the tanker.

So quite an eventful day. Sorting the headsail is the next priority once the wind drops now that the cabin is in the... least wet... state it has been in for a while. The word dry can not be used until I get to Newport I feel.

Please no more heavy weather, weather Gods, thank you please. Please send stiff favourable breezes to the Aviva team who are attempting to break the all girl round Britain and Ireland record... No, the outright round Britain and Ireland record. We have had plenty of breeze here thanks. Northerly 15knots will do for the next 5 days cheers.

Sorry if any alarm was caused. I hear it is big news on OSTAR website.

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