End of Day 10 Beaufort NC USA towards Guernsey

This Blog entry is an edited version of the message we sent back whilst we were on the passage.  The original, without pictures, was sent by radio with a laptop that controls a modem connected to the HF/SSB radio.  With that set up we can contact one of the SailMail stations to send the daily text message to my daughter Charlotte in Guernsey who then forwards it on to a list of family members.

2359hrs (P, GMT -3) Sun 7 Jun 2020

Dear All,

I'd lowered the sails at 2200hrs last night because they were doing nothing other than whipping backwards and forwards in the very slight (<5kt) tail wind and there was more chance of their being damaged than actually providing any propulsion.  However, at our 0400hrs watch change the wind had come around to our starboard beam and there was just enough to motorsail, so we hoisted the sails again and continued under reduced engine revs but at a higher speed.

Sailing again

Finally, at 0525hrs there was enough wind to sail at near enough 6 knots (what we needed to hit the timeline) so I switched the engine off - bliss.

Dolphins visiting during breakfast

Because the sea was benign in the morning and it was unlikely to be for the next few days, Nicky set to with some more cleaning chores that had been bugging her.  Yesterday I'd checked that the heater worked (in case our routing takes us north!) and reconnected a heating pipe that had come adrift in our hanging locker (the heater makes it a nice airing cupboard).  Whilst doing that I noticed that we probably needed to empty and refresh that locker.  When I woke up at midday, the cleaning fairy had sorted all of that out as well.

Cumin scented butternut squash and pepper curry and a yellow lentil dhal

My payback chore was to conjure up a feast to celebrate that at about midday we had sailed 1500nm on this passage.  So I set to making a curry banquet; cumin scented butternut squash and pepper curry with a yellow lentil dhal and homemade chapattis.

Day One of sprouting 'mystery beans'

I also started our 'garden'.  Whilst we were in lockdown at Roatan in the Bay Islands we met a fun couple, Sheri and Lawrence, on their catamaran, Pfat Cat.  As well as scuba diving with them, at one 'socially distanced sundowners' we discussed our previous not so successful attempts to sprout mung beans whilst we had been on passage.  Some yachts seem to be able to sprout all sorts of beans and get interesting fresh salads but for us the shoots just seemed to go bad and rotten in the sprouting jar.  Sheri was definitely an expert at sprouting but talked about a special tray that she used which helps to keep the sprouting beans drier.  When we left Roatan, Sheri and Lawrence presented us with a leaving gift of a brand new sprouting tray; super generous and thoughtful of them.  So now that we are a good way through our fresh veggies and supplies, today was day one of starting to sprout some bean shoots.  The packet of seeds was unmarked so we are attempting to sprout 'mystery beans'; we'll let you know how we get on in 3-5 days time.

Whilst all of that has been going on, BV has been quietly forging along like a champ.  With the wind on our beam the course has been a bit wiggly but we've generally been romping along at over 7.5 knots for most of the day. Perhaps, therefore, we didn't need to motor last night.  However, it feels much more comfortable knowing that tomorrow we will easily reach a longitude that should keep us far enough east of the stronger winds that are chasing up behind us.

Love to all,

Reg and Nicky

Passage statistics:

Position at midday 07 Jun: N38 16 W049 55

Position at midnight 07 Jun: N38 44 W048 01

Midday to midday distance through water (23 hours due hour change yesterday): 147 nautical miles (average 6.4 knots).

Midday to midday GPS distance towards destination (23 hours due hour change yesterday): 141 nautical miles

Midnight to midnight distance through water: 173 nautical miles (average 7.2 knots)

Midnight to midnight GPS distance towards destination: 175 nautical miles

Total miles covered through water: 1597 nautical miles

Approximate distance to go (GPS route to Guernsey): 2040 nautical miles

End of Day 10 Beaufort, North Carolina, USA towards Guernsey