Since the wind began to drop after dark last night
it has just disappeared. I have made little practical advance over the ground in
the last 12 hours and the forecast is for more of the same except the wind is to
go round in circles to make lift interesting. I do need at least 8 kts wind on a
smooth sea to move!
Between the banging and crashing of no wind and
irregular swells and occasional zephyr of wind offering only the prospect of
progress, not actual progress looking at the chart, as I am trying to make
ground when the swell prevents an average wind angle much better than 50
degrees and the stream is against me. There has been some maintenance,
tightening a few shackle pins having found one loose but not lost
:-) must get some spare pins as I loose them not the shackle. The rod
kicker decided it had had enough of the wallowing and banging and decided to
part company with the mast and gouge the coach roof for a while till I realized
what the noise was. The bracket failed as well as pulling the rivets out leaving
part on the mast but also pulling a section of the mast (not big enough to
worry about I should add). So I am now back to a rope kicker.
Does the job but now have to remember to use the second halyard as a
topping lift if I need to reef. and just hope that the spray hood takes the
weight of the boom as I crawl from my bunk for a rapid reef, and forget the
change in system
Drifting along in near silence as there is not
enough wind to turn the air-I, which is nice but it means I have to run the
engine to charge to keep the pilot working. Oh for enough boat
speed for the windvane to steer. Then there is the occasional look at
the radar. The are fishing boats about but nothing close since yesterday, The
fishing boat VHF chat appears to be three to six words on the calling
channel.
Mike
Lat:40.48.17
Lon:69.25
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