Hello team,
So how is your week going? Patiently chipping away at the chores list, getting going again after every set back? Well done you. The positive news is that its closer to this weekend than last, even more so if you count Thursday as ‘Fizz Friday eve’, and of course remember the future is now, in the moment.
On board this end, after three days we have moved Shaun’s JBL Flip speaker from next to the helming compass, and then suddenly found we are now heading in the right direction, almost towards Oban. On, a serious note, around lunchtime yesterday (Tuesday) the wind began to veer (move in a clockwise direction) and gently fill in, so we were able to cautiously turn towards Oban. Hoping not to sail into the centre ridge of high pressure, that is forming between Oban Distillery, (did I mention I am looking forward to trying an Oban Malt) and ourselves. Keeping an eye on the clouds to our front, the barometer and wind speed/direction, looking for telltale signs we may have turned too early, we have been able to actually make some progress with very good VMG. We are hoping that by the time we reach the start of the Ocean Sprint the wind will be around the mid-teens strength and either on the beam or just aft, time will tell.
The sea remains very flat, again helping us with boat speed in this light breeze. There have been numerous switches between the Windseeker and the Code 1 spinnaker. The watches are really slick at those evolutions now, with the Code 1 being repacked on deck within minutes. There is also a great improvement on light wind helming, apart from when the conversation in the cockpit includes the Oban and Race Finish stops, then the talk drifts back to the helmers, who briefly forget they can influence arrival at said stop overs massively, its literally in their hands! Another conversation on deck amongst the multi-leggers is naming all the crew on each leg, which watch they were on and whom they did mother watch with. Yes, suddenly without warning another minute passes.
Below deck, sleeping bags are firmly out, apart from #1 and myself, we have both gone for just the sleeping liner, which is fine. I am sure there is an argument that it is the same thing, but we would argue otherwise. However, I will admit to wearing my Buffalo Mountain shirt on deck during the 02:00 to 08:00 morning watch, which due to the latitude we are at, isn’t really dark at any time. The sunrises have been very special in my opinion.
Slight change for today, as there is no blog tomorrow. Tomorrow, (11th) the Scottish legend Robert the Bruce, who would become the King of the Scots, was born in 1274. (Think that's better, than today, 10th, which is National Pina Colada Day.)
Think that’s all for now, standing by this channel.
David, Maisie and the ‘reminiscing’ Bekezela Crew (UTC -1, we are getting close now)