within 2nm of it), the wind is blowing mid 20's, it has been a less
than perfect night as we were attacked by squall after squall, the
swell was very confused and the boat motion was in a word "crap".
So
it's about 10:30am Jo is comatosed on the couch, Jason is in the
lounge chair reading the latest Robert Ludlum book and.....
BANG!!
There is this god all mighty sickening bang, almost of a crash, and
with
it a violent shudder almost everything on the back starboard side of
the boat is dislodged and thrown into the middle of the boat.
Both of us yell (%#%#$&^*&! Jason quickly jumps up to take a look
outside to see what we hit - shipping container, whale, another
boat, jeepas it had to be something for that noise. But there is
nothing. Then it's quickly downstairs to check the bilge areas to
see if we were taking on any water. - the sound and the resulting
shock movement that the boat went through there must be some damage
or something??.
Nothing, bilge areas are all dry except for a brownish liquid in the
center bilge about the amount of a can of coke! - that it was, as
one must have split at one point and shared it's contents with the
boat.
Outside of the coke, there is nothing. We quickly put things back
together while continuing to say "&%#@^*(!!! what the hell was
that".
All we can put it down to was a well timed big wave slapping us
right on
the rear starboard quarter of the boat as we later realized that the
cockpit was completely drenched. But what a slap the noise and
shockwave was so loud we were sure we must have hit something.
That's how our Day 6 started. The previous 48 hours were not
comfortable sailing. Big VERY confused seas. More of a slop, and
windy all day and night, coupled with squalls. Most of the boats on
the radio nets we have been listing to are also suffering from the
lumpy
sea. Mostly caused by a few large low pressure systems way up north.
These are pushing the swell down in a southerly direction and this
is meeting with our "swell" coming from the east = SLOP!
Progress has been ok with 169nm for the day. Wind forecast is
showing that it will drop off over the weekend and into early next
week,
so we will be able to get the big sails up and hopefully enjoy some
smoother sailing conditions.
Still no fish - well we need to try a bit more though - but when
you're
bouncing around the way we have been who wants to gut a fish? Have
managed to scoop up a
few flying fish. Wow the ones in the Atlantic are double the size of
the ones we had in the pacific - almost 12" long! also managed to
land a squid in the cockpit!
Good news the water temp is rising, we are up to 27.5 degrees
today!! and the days are certainly getting warmer.
We will have to start to keep an eye out as the boat that was
abandoned a few days ago was "let go" only 150nm south of us, who
knows where the current and wind would have taken it. It will be
very hard to see at night with no lights and possibly no rig! - This
we do not want to hit!.
Position 20-51N, 31-14W, COG 272.
Time for a radio net then a movie,
Cheers!
J&J
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