Day 9 More weather, bugs and a surprise cake
9Tuesday 3 December 2013
To start with the serious stuff. A few have been asking about our strategy so a quick old reminder.
Looking at grib files, weather routing suggested heading south from the start to avoid light winds and head winds to the west. A few days in, two weather routing experts suggested staying east of 20W and south of 15N. Our same course but more southerly. We followed this as did a few more although some have now cut through the islands. We opted not to as the weather looked lighter in the islands but a forecast is a forecast.
Some yachts chose to hit the engine from the start and motor through the light winds, re-fuelling in the Verdes, and are now way in front while others have taken the head winds on. We’ve been trimming and seeking wind. To quote Tom Cunliffe “Set out on a great circle with hope in your heart, but at all times sail your ship to travel as fast as sensibly possible in the most achievable comfort. Soon you’ll be miles from your hoped-for track”.
We’re slowly going south of the Verdes and have been sailing along nicely. The trade winds are now not far away (if the forecast comes to fruition) and the sense of anticipation amongst the crew for these winds to kick in is strong.
It’s a Bugs Life
Onto less serious matters onboard. It’s been ‘Adina Bug Day’ – lot’s of little green ‘stink’ bugs you try not to squash! Added to that a dragon fly, a beautiful butterfly and a Womble on the foredeck.
Overnight gave clear skies and the boys were star spotting again. Canis Major (the great dog) has been re-named Zeus Major after Gareth’s dog. Aldebaran of Taurus being Star of the night.
Highlight of the day was Susie and Lindsay surprising us all with a freshly baked lemon drizzle cake with 15’N written on it and some cocktails featuring fruit and even colourful cocktail sticks. Top marks to our ladies!
We’re loving your comments which are read out daily after dinner. And this ‘story time’ has become a special event of each day as we all huddle together in the cockpit. A special little shout out to 13 month old Barnaby for all his great comments! Frank and Henry – we miss you both and promise to catch a fish for you!
So to the daily crew daily quiz…it’s Tom who grinds his coffee beans. Today – who has their own workbench vice onboard that they made themselves as a youngster?
Well, Susie has her own workbench vice, but she didn’t make it herself. So, my guess is Neil – but what did he imagine he might need it for?? Hope the food stores are holding out, about time you supplemented the diet with some fish! Stay safe. xx
Ah yes where would we all be without Tom Cunliffe? Why don’t you play the Tom Cunliffe game, every time something goes wrong on Adina – let’s say if someone puts a rope on a winch the wrong way round (what never?) you must exclaim “What would Tom Cunliffe say? Or if you have a dilemma such as, one or two reefs, or indeed one or two slices of Susie’s bread you must ask “what would Tom Cunliffe do?” . Hours of fun I promise!
You say that you enjoy reading our posts, well we all sure love reading all about your adventures on the high seas – it all sounds so, civilised!
Wind is like supermarket queues, the other one’s are invariably faster. There are a couple of boats physically behind you in your group. Once the ‘motorsailors’ have been time-adjusted then you should be somewhere mid-pack. I saw somewhere that 1.8 hours are added to a boat’s time for every hour spent motoring.
Dear Adina Crew…
Mr Cunliffe sounds like a very wise man and there is clearly no doubt that you are all fulfilling your goal with the most perfect heart and mindset possible. Those trade winds are there somewhere and you will find them aaaaaaaany second I am positive.
I got the question right woop woop, daddy says Tom must be a very sensible person as decent coffee is one of the most important things in the world (I think he thinks wine is the other one…..). Hmmmm a vice, I guess Neil because he has lots of tools (that I’m not allowed to play with) and he is most good at fixing things himself.
That reminds me, mummy wanted me to send Neil an extra special cuddle today because she has to work away all week this week and she said even that long makes her insides a little sad because she misses my “squishy face” so even though Neil gets to live his dream he must miss Amelia and Rebecca Hallie Wheeeeeleeeeer lots. Mummy says Amelia is going to be as happy as I am when she comes home when she sees her daddy and thats LOTS. So cuddles for you Neil, and just think, your trip is going to make the best bedtime story EVER 🙂
Love Barnaby xxxxx
ps. Thank you for my shout out I feel very special now (typing is quite tricky!)
Maybe a tad historic but to let you know from the boys in Brazil that they have completed their delivery in time for the FED. Miracles can happen.
Stay safe and enjoying the updates.
Brilliant!! A master stroke from the ladies to smuggle lemon drizzle and cocktails on board! Well done all x
A confession – I hadn’t read any entries until today, such is the life of someone so self-absorbed.
Here in Colorado we have half a foot of snow, so am living vicariously through you and the phosphorescent dolphins. (I’m surprised there was any doubt about Susie being the one to spell that correctly) 😉
I’d love a piece of lemon cake, if you wouldn’t mind throwing some my way. Tell Susie I’ll send her some orange cremes via carrier pigeon, or some more appropriate ocean bird.
Lots of love Hilary xoxo
Dear Miss Cuninningham how are you doing? Did the squid inkify you?
From Umar
What’s this about ‘lemon drizzle cake’? What’s wrong with good old fashioned hard tack biscuits with weevils like your predecessors ‘enjoyed’? Never mind questions about vices (garden shed variety) and such like – what has been puzzling us is how a squid managed to get on the foredeck? Was it dropped by a passing albatross: did it hitch a lift on one of the flying fish; was it washed aboard at some stage when you had wind and big seas and blue water came over the bow; or was it a species of squid that can leap like a salmon??
The tracker appears to indicate you are now catching some wind and are well established on following the 15th parallel all the way to St Lucia. Enjoy the largely down-wind experience.