Day 5 – let’s talk about wind, let’s talk
11Friday 29 November 2013
Day 5 dawned with sadly no wind and us motoring. Which we don’t really want to do – we are here to sail an Ocean!
Each day the skippers get together for a chat on the radio around 1pm. It is now clear there are a lot of boats that motored from day 1 and are heading to the Cape Verde islands to refuel. There are some of us trying to squeeze every last drop of wind into our wonderful sails. We are only motoring when there is no wind as we have to appreciate crew have flights to catch. There are even purists who haven’t touched their engines – heartfelt respect to them.
This explains our position. Today we heard that two weather routing experts advised staying east of 20W and to go south of the Cape Verde islands to 15N to find the treasure of trade winds. This has always been our intended route although 180 miles further south than we anticipated. Skip Tom did some analysis on the route options and we had a good team talk with all contributing. We agreed to a crew member we’ll stick with this. So our route may look odd, indeed those motoring will refuel, and will most likely get in before us. No sour grapes, why not? Us – we can’t wait to hoist our spinnaker and sail in those glorious trade winds.
Onboard crew have a positive attitude working really hard, trimming the sails constantly, helming by hand. Truth be told I haven’t had this much fun since racing days and we’re only a cruising boat!
Dolphins exciting Lindsay!
A massive pod of dolphins danced around the boat delighting us and Lindsay was heard coaxing them to leap “Come on Miranda!” – dolphins called Miranda? Gareth suggested they were showing us the way – let’s hope so.
Neil cooked up a treat of asian-style pork that went down a treat – we eat very well!
We must say a big thank you for all your blog comments. We eat dinner around 7pm and as a ritual Tom them reads them all out – it’s a highlight!
Yesterdays answer to whose a scuba instructor who tastes wine below the sea is Tom! Today’s question is who has eaten and enjoyed sea urchins?
Dawn on day 6 and we have some wind. Blow now wind, blow, take us south, fill our sails, Adina is sailing.
Hi folks. We are absolutely loving your updates – highlight of breakfast to read your latest news! We are totally onboard with your sailing strategy and hope the wind continues to fill your sails. As a matter of interest are you sending your updates via SSB or Satcom?
We look forward to your next instalment.
I’ve eaten sea urchins! Glad the winds are picking up. Time to rock and roll!!!
Greta fun reading your comments – hopefully not too much time on the engine. I tried sea urchin once many years ago, freshly picked on the beach and think they must have hallucinogenic properties. (it is also the last time I tried sea urchin)
Hope you catch those trade winds soon
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
My guess is that Neill has eaten sea urchins. Richard had a close encounter with sea urchins once – it took forever to remove the tiny spines from his feet and hands, and the pain was something else!
Hi Lindsay and the team!
Enjoying reading your posts every day. You stick to your guns and hold out for the wind. There’s no glory in finishing first by motoring and what could be better than bowling downwind with the spinny flying!
I ate sea urchin once on a beach in Corsica. A gentleman insisted I tried it after I asked him what he’d been collecting in a plastic bag tied to his weight belt. I wasn’t very keen but felt rude to decline his offer. It was kind of fruity and salty at the same time. No hallucinogenic effects though.
Lindsay, I’m seeing Susie tonight, so I’ll update her on your progress. Keep enjoying yourselves.
Mel
Dear Miss Cunningham
We missed you at the Polka Theatre today. Joshua got the star of the week today for his Hanukkah talk and we had doughnuts! Good luck and hope the naughty wind comes back soon.
love
Angus
Hi Lins and crew I am reading daily your journey it is amazing to hear about everything and love especially the shooting stars and Lins encouraging dolphins to chat and guide you all too. I hope there will be some lovely photos to see at the end of the year of your trip. Keep enjoying the amazing fresh sea air and am sure you will have good sailing soon. Love juneyxxx
Hello to Neil and everyone else on board. We’re keeping a watch on the tracker and enjoying reading about your trip each day. I reckon that it has got to be Neil who likes Sea Urchin. He is known for his gastronomic feats!
All the best.
Will & Katie
Great quote Callum, very appropriate. I hope Tom & Suzie do dig deep and do a complete circumnavigation. Many challenges will be thrown their way and there will be plenty of curly one’s but, then again, that’s half the fun of pitting yourself. There is a saying here in NZ from the Maori. It is Kia Kaha and means be strong or have strength. So, T & S, Kia Kaha from Aotearoa, you’ll be glad you did and may the gods smile upon you. …besides, the fishing is far superior in the Pacific!! 😉
As Neil’s wife, I feel that it is cheating to comment on who the consumer of Sea Urchin may be… however I think many of the gueses above are on point! So wonderful to get your updates crew of Adina! Follow those winds – these adventures come rarely and you MUST do it how you want to do it! Amelia and I will be waiting on the other side regardless of when you get there. Also feel free to send requests of what I can greet the boat with – baked goods – a bottle of bubbly? You name it! May winds come your way – enjoy the journey!
Good morning dear Lins and crew,
Ah thank you for your email LC and lovely hear from you, crazy to get messages from the middle’ish of the ocean! I will stick to the blogging and pass on your message. Love hearing about the dancing dolphins leading your way, hopefully…
Wishing more wind to hit your sails super soon.
We’re off to hit the crazy Christmas chaos of the West End today, probably will end up in a cozy pub somewhere to escape the crowds. A completely different environment to where you all are!! Lots of love and windy wishes to you all, SG x