Day 8(?) from Halifax

Position: 42*57'N 34*47'W

The North Atlantic is absolutely majestic this morning. It blew a steady 20 knots from the WSW, occassionally in creasint o 27 - 30 knts, partiulary in the eary hours. We held on to the sail plan we had up, and Infanta just reeed off the miles.

This morning the wind has backed to SW and set in at 20 knots. Reviewing the latest weather data, we concluded we should still run east to avoid windless areas to our north, and then (36 - 48 hours) turn NE to carry the edge of the latest gale due to pass over us.We took down the yankee pole (as it was poled out), set the double reefed main and single reefed mizzen and we are steaming toward Cape Finesterre.

There is not a cloud in the sky, and the incandescent sun is reflecting off a zillion wind ripples making the sea look frosted to our south. Everywhere else is a deep deep blue rolling desert punctuated by sheep - sorry, curling wave crests. Infantas varnish is sparkling, chrome glinting and teak decks bleached by salt. Its a grand picture - only marred by Douglas at the helm without his shirt on!.

Not many of you now Douglas. I describe him as a student, which is correct, but it conjurs up slightly the wrong impression. He is 21, although we had terrible trouble in any bar in the US to convince them of it, even with ID, and were regularly thrown out. We developed the tactic of ordering our drinks first, quickly consuming half, Douglas strolls up and we order his, they refuse to serve him, so we have a row and all walk out without paying. Anyway I digress. Douglas is late of a school of reverse notE, and is at Bristol uni, and in addition to being fluent in English, is also in Ialian and Russian. In September he goes to an Italian uni to study philology and next year to Russia to the Conservatoire to study Piano Performance, as he is a concert pianist also. He will often be seen languishing in his bunk studying the minutia in tonal innuendo of a Rachmaninof (?) score. He makes good toast, and packet macaroni cheese, although the other day he threw the packet over the side before memorising the instructions!!

He is an intuitive sailor, but being clever too is very helpful. He asked me how to reef the mainsail. I told him, tighten up on the topping lift, that line over there, open the halliard clutch, mast port side, lower halliard until the first luff pennat is at the gooseneck, pass the pennant under the gooseneck, through the cringle and make fast with a half hitch on the bite around itself. Tension the leach pennant on the boom winch, shout "ready" and we will release some sheet, close the clutch and winch up the haliard, release topping lift and shout "ok" so we can sheet in. He hasn't asked me again, and reefs the main quite happily.

In light and general conversation, he may correct a detail for someone, and you can rest assured he will be right. Anyway, he wears his intellect well and is delightful company, uncomplaining and doesnt eat much. Rather handy to have on board.

After our toast and jam this morning, for luch we will be having fresh Penne Nicoise (no anchovies(and definately no walnuts garaunteed)) and if I can find it, a glass of red wine.So some more weather to hit us in a day or so, but we are scurrying on our way, really hoping to be back in Cowes during the weekend of 12th 13th.

Tim

_______________INFANTACall Sign: MSQM9MMSI: 235065119Iridium: +8816 316 56744

Tuesday update

After a rather hiddeous night last night the wind today has remained reasonable at about 20 knots with very confused seas. Expecting the same tonight but will freshen again tomorow.

Current position: 42 deg 37' N 37deg 23' W

Day 7 from Halifax

You will see from the photos that we were having a lovely sail yesterday afternoon. Soon after, we reviewed the latest met charts and the Atlantic Gale, Danny was going to produce some strong winds for our position, but less strong 50 miles south. We took the decision to gybe and head south. The wind dropped to zero and we motored, but had already double reefed the main, and taken the #1 yankee off and put on the #2 yankee,

By 2 am, A's watch the wind started to build form the south, and soon Infanta was flying to windward against a strong South breeze under her reefed rig. I came on at 0600, and the breeze had veered to the SW, and we were headed too far south, so I eased the sheets and headed SE. Very soon, I noticed a change in the sea state, and it was getting very rough, looking like wind over tide, and sure enough the gps confirmed that we had got into contra current.

It was now blowing 20 - 24 knots, and the seas were disgraceful, and impudent, not just threatening to, but often breaking into the cockpit. A came up and we gybed her round to sail back out of the the swirling currents. After 5 miles or so, it became obvious that our course was too far north, and we needed to run off, set up the spinny pole, gype the staysail, set up preventers and boom out the yankee, lower and stow the mainsail. and all the time the seas were throwing Infanta about and the foredeck looked decidedly uninviting..

D was asleep, and A and I, after a long night short handed in these winds, and completely sleep deprived were both having difficulty facing this difficult and dangerous work. ( we all use safety harnesses, but if you slip over the side, thats the end). We had a tin of Coke each, and a Muesli bar, and started to feel a bit better and we started the work. It all took an hour of careful staged actions to get it all done. Back in the cockpit we realised that part of our problem was that we were both very over dressed, and therefore in a kind of stifled melt down. Under my oilies I hd on about 14 teashirts to combat the nights cold, and now at 1000. it was about 75 degrees. I pealed them all off, and by the time i got to the last few they were drenchd in sweat. Finally just sitting in our shorts in the stiff breeze we felt a whole lot better.

Nonetheless, we were both knackered, and have caught some sleep today with D on the helm. The wind has blown really hard all day, and the steering has been hard. You would think that a strong wind would hurry us on our way but it creates dangerous sea conditions, and being under crewed we cannot sail the boat fast in safety.. With the wind directly behind, if it suddenly gets even stronger, you have no place to hide. It just gets you in a position were you fight to get sails down.

The wind has moderated slightly, and using the auto pilot to steer, we all 3 have just spent an hour gybing, resetting sails, poling out, changing the # 2 yankee for the #1, and are just having a meal, before setting in for another nights steering through the windy darkness.

Tim_______________INFANTACall Sign: MSQM9MMSI: 235065119Iridium: +8816 316 56744

Hauling in the mizzen staysail

Keeping a vigilant lookout

Day ? from Halifax

BY the time it was dark last night, we had reduced sail to two small headsails set to goosewing. The wind 22 - 28 knots, and the seas had built into 4 - 5 metre high monsters with breaking tops. It was very di8fficut to steer, and impossible to sleep, as the rolling was violent and every thing noisy.

Today is a gentle breee from N, hot sun and little white clouds. Seas have died down, so if we are not on watch we are asleep 6 or 8 chaps will go and race a yacht for 3 hours, get exhausted, have a few beers and supper. We are sailing for 300 hours, and at night we are doing it solo, and we are all worn down today, but pleased to be heading in the right direction after taking a strategic direction to the se to avoid the effects of tropical storm Danny, due to the north of us tonight or tomorrow.

The sea temp has risen to 82*, which means we have also picked up the end of the Gulf Stream, at the moment it seems to be giving us 2 knots extra speed !!

Alls well

Tim