Drama drama drama!

January 19 Day 10

What a day! Firstly the winds had really picked up and it was an unusually cloudy day with loads of squalls on the horizon. I was the last to get upstairs at about 8:30, the whooping of delight at the big boat speeds, had got me out of bed to to find my morning cuppa. I hadn’t been up that long when there was an almighty crack and rock of the boat, the main sail was down and the Ginger Gennaker was free. It really sobered us up very quickly, especially after getting the news that Brainstorm is being abandoned and another boat Rhapsody(very nice French monohull that was next door to us in Las Palmas) is also going to their rescue to take two of the crew. On inspection of our issue Rowan and Tom discovered that a big wave and gust must have broken the rope attaching the Ginger Gennaker and the force of that must have given the mast an almighty jolt that snapped the halyard rope that keeps the main sail up. Both sails are ok, we just need new ropes. It was all action stations as we turned the boat, got the snuffer to bring down the Gennaker which thankfully all worked like a dream. Tom had to go halfway up the mast to free one of the reefing lines caught around the radar. Then they used the rope that holds the boom up (Topping line for you sailors!) to raise the main sail as we will not be able to use the main halyard. A couple of reefs went into the main sail to make it a bit smaller and finally things had a semblance of normality again, as we started to sail again with Sporty (the Code Sail) up. We were so lucky with timing as the first dark clouds of the nearest squall got closer and closer.

It remained a very cloudy day with loads of squalls, often the wind died just before entering them, but we managed a respectable 6-7knots. We won’t reach anywhere near the highs of yesterday. We are having bets on the mileage covered every day at midday. Rowan nailed it with 194 miles for the past 24hours.

The boys came up with an idea to send a mouse line down the inside of the mast, so that we can try and thread a new halyard rope. Tom drilled a hole through a fishing weight and a thin long suitable rope was found. Next was for Tom to go up to the top of the mast, not the calmest of seas but with the engines going, and moving with the waves it was as smooth as we were going to get. We fixed two lines to Tom with Rowan and Luke each managing one. Tom got to the top and threaded it into the mast but it never dropped the whole way. A good idea but was not going to work and we wanted to get Tom down as quickly as possible. Poor chap did really well, but it was really draining, he needed a good chocolate boost afterwards. We will have to proceed carefully with our Topping lift which we have discovered is made of polyester so not the strongest rope, we will have to nurture it and keep two reefs in. The wind picked up a bit and to be safe we changed Sporty for Posh (our normal self tacking Jib).

News has trickled through from the Arc, seems like quite a crossing, with Brainstorm now abandoned, a few other boats have issues too, and are limping along in huge areas of no wind. The boats that went north hit some weather and Kiwi cat damaged a window which sounds alarming. A few boats have gone to Cape Verde and are refuelling and staying there for a few days to restock and watch the winds no doubt. Quite odd to think in the old apartheid days in South Africa, South African Airways was banned from flying over most countries in Africa so it had to take a longer route over the ocean, because of this the planes had to refuel in the Cape Verdes. I can remember stopping there a couple of times, of course we were not allowed off the plane, it was literally a refuel and go. A refuelling stop not just for boats. No doubt the South African government paid them handsomely for this.

Quite something for What’s Next and Rhapsody who both now have two extra crew. That must be quite an impact on provisions when you think mileage wise we are only half way there.

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phoebe@gormleyandgamble.com or +447577461740 xxx

Squalls are about