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Published: September 17th 2013
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Departed Cocos Sat 31
stAugust. Started off with fairly light winds, but then had a beautiful sail, best day ever and even had whole main up. Perfect conditions. Connie and Graham came over on the morning we left and brought their own coffee and Trouble and Strife for a visit. (we had some chicken bones for them). Anyway, they didn’t stay long, but it was a nice send off. Late the night before we had made our sign for DI – our card in Resin. We accidently put in slightly too much catalyst, so it ended up a bit browner than expected, but ok for our first attempt.
Had the perfect day sailing today, calmish seas with a big swell (nice and smooth) good winds so had the main all the way up today for the first time since leaving Darwin. Cracking 6kts for most of the day. Even caught a small (83cm) Wahoo!! So had that for dinner and still more left over for tomorrow night. Starting to come in a bit now though, so have double reefed the main once more. All going well, into the cruising routine started slowly, but going better now. Have a boat in front
and many coming behind (some of whom will pass us) Have a radio sched each morning and night with the yachts, so that's nice.
September 5
th,
Been at sea now since Saturday, almost a week, and now well and truly settled into the routine of passage. Been quite good weather wise, but I would of course prefer the seas to be less bumpy. We’ve adjusted our clocks by half hour already in preparation for time zone difference in Rodriguez and will do so a few more times over the course of the next week.
Didn’t have a very good day yesterday in regards to getting wet!! Went through 3 changes of clothes over 2 watches. The first change happened about 7am. I was sitting on the Port side, doing a sail adjustment when I heard a massive splash against the hull, I stood up, but even then the wave came over the lee cloths and wet me from waist down. Not to mention all the water that was now in the cockpit and all over the cushion. (they are wet through anyway, but still each day I try to dry them out a little bit). The next
one happened at around 830. I was sitting on starboard side having breakfast with Phil on Pt side. Another large wave and this time our Stb side went down into it and water came rushing down the Stb side and right into the cockpit. I couldn’t stand quick enough this time and once again was soaked from waist down. And the third happened on my next watch, so about 1pm. Once again I was on Stb side, but this time laying down (as I often am on my watch) and the same thing happened, but I couldn’t move at all with my sore back, so therefore, got completely soaked. AND this was after I’d spent an hour trying to dry out cushions and cockpit. Oh well, life at sea I guess!!!
There is a radio sched happening at 0830 and 1700 each day, so it’s nice to know where the other boats from Cocos are in relation to us. We left on Sat, with one boat in front of us by a few hrs, and one directly behind us. Dana is much bigger so overtook us that night. We overtook Allegra that night, but he was heavily reefed and
a solo sailor. Also staying much higher than us. More boats left on Sunday and then even more on Monday and Tues. We will be overtaken by most of them as they are all so much bigger than us and are cracking 7-9kts to our 6! But at least we get to chat to them and know where they are each day. Heard from Bonaire, they got into Rodriguez this morning.
Sept 7
th Today we are halfway to Rodrigues (an Island of Mauritius). We have done 1000nm and have another 1000 to go. Today the sailing conditions are just wonderful. We have light winds, which unfortunately means we go slower (only about 5nm today)but the seas are so very calm and it's just beautiful. THey've been a bit rough lately, so I'm particularly enjoying it. Because of the conditions, we've had showers, done some washing and will cook a roast for dinner. Not so fancy dinners when it's rough. We've got the fishing line out, so roast will become cold meat tomorrow if we catch a fish. We're into the routine of passage now, and are both getting enough sleep
Sometime last night, a big
fat bird tried to land on the top of our mast and broke our wind indicator. This means that now it is very difficult to get the exact position of the wind for sailing. When phil is teaching sailing, most of the time he is saying...”look up” and now we are constantly looking up to....nothing!!!!
Sept 8
th Today I made bread!! And I felt like a baker too, up at 6am to begin my watch and straight into making the bread (as my watch ends at 9am and I wanted it done). Usually I’m resting and dozing until at least 7am before making any dramatic moves and here I was kneading the bread (which I might add is very hard work) at 0630!!! Still it was worth it, made the best bread to date!! Still lovely calm conditions and all much happier on board because of it (ok, so maybe just I’m happier, Phil loves any conditions!!)
Sept 10
th Well last night was a tad rough, so we had to use the electric auto pilot. That meant that as she keeps a more precise route, I could stay below for my watches (we both did). That
aft cabin is mighty comfy let me tell you. All I had to do, was give a check she was on course, adjust if necessary (although most times it wasn't) and look for ships - all of which could be done from companionway steps...didn't even have to go outside!! Not very good propagation for HF Radio (we're in between stations at Brunei and Africa) so position reports and emails may be somewhat delayed over the next couple of days.
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