Date: 01/12/2009 15:06:58
Latitude: 20.25
Longitude: -44.21
Daily Log Number 9, ARC 2009, Tuesday 1st December. 1240 UTC
Position: 20.25N 44.21W
We have had a day of two halves, and some of the nicest sailing we have had on the trip so far. Monday afternoon and the skies were generally clear apart from the odd massive rain cloud. Monday night saw an increasing wind overnight and we managed to keep the spinnaker up until 0600, with both watches enjoying incredible runs in the moonlight trimming away on the spinnaker sheet. This morning the skies are totally clouded over with squall lines threatening all over the sky and occasionally liberally dousing us with heavy rain. I have just been speaking with Alan on deck, and his watch are absolutely drenched but roaring with laughter as they change the trim of the headsail.
The weather picture ahead of us is quite complex, but shows a large area with very unsettled conditions, where the trough originated. We can expect mixed fortunes with lots of squalls and rain mixed in with some light winds, and once we emerge the other side in a couple of days time, we should see the winds go back again to the north east and the skies clear out again.
Our drowned rat of the day picture is of Alan enjoying life in the sunny trades! A retired businessman living in Epsom, he is married to Deborah and has two step children, Louise and Duncan. Alan has been a diver since his 20's and was persuaded to start sailing by a diving buddy 15 years ago. Since then he has owned two sailing boats in Chichester and has sailed the Isle of Wight area, the Solent and the English Channel. Alan has always had it inside him that he wanted to cross the Atlantic and decided that the time was right. 'This trip' says Alan, 'is everything I hoped it to be - absolutely exhilarating and a challenge. It has exceed my expectations, a great boat and a great crew'.
Alan helming and slightly wet!
Our ETA competition is providing lots of continuing interest; as our speed is varying a lot at the moment, so one guess becomes more accurate than another. Suffice to say that at the moment the Northern Child record is achievable, but I am hesitant to say more than that. With an area of lighter winds expected from Wednesday evening into Thursday, we can expect to turn in some shorter daily runs.
Living on board during the last 24 hours has been much more of a challenge and sleep has been difficult to get as the boat has been noisy in all respects and moving around so much. Even Robert, very well adapted to life at sea and sleeping well, has just poked his head out of the aft cabin unable to sleep. We continue to have squalls going across us, winds up into the thirties with accompanying rain showers, and then dying winds as the squall moves away. The only relief is that they are quick to pass and it warms up very quickly again, allowing a quick drying process in the heat of the day.
With good following winds over the last 24 hours, we are delighted to have sailed a fantastic 201 miles towards our destination, a great effort put in by all the crew. We will reach 1,000 miles to run to St Lucia by lunchtime ship's time, which is now two hours behind UTC (Universal Time Co-ordinated). UTC has replaced GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) since the UK government didn't want the expense of running the atomic clocks: it is now done jointly by, amongst others, the French and the Americans who no longer liked the reference to Greenwich! So, all in all a mixed 24 hours with many more highs than lows and good progress. A bientot, Julian, Northern Child.