Position : 62,03N, 50,07W, engine on @ 1300 RPM, full staysail on port tack, boom restrained by our new preventer (a block and tackle), wind N 15-20, CSE 161M, SOG 5.9 KT, 1007hpa and steady, air temp is 4.1c, water temp is 4.2c, no ice seen, (doesn’t mean its not there) slight seas. no traffic.
We have established our sea-routine and are now in our two hourly watch system which keeps the vessel safe and on track with a fresh pair of eyes always on lookout, with both myself and the mate Andy ready to respond. We will also do our ’trick’ at the wheel ( well, these days looking at the autopilot steering us, with brew in hand…) along with our crew. Both of us have just snugged the vessel down for the night and have run through our reefing and stowing procedure together prior to stowing the main ready for ocean in a few days, while Steve briefed all others below on our radar and AIS systems.
A simple and sound plan for shortening sail is essential as we may have to do it under pressure, at night and in marginal conditions. I will bring on the more than capable crew to ‘going forward to reef’ as situational awareness and confidence develops in the coming days. Both Ben and Steve have been mentoring and briefing us all on the vessel and how she performs, which has been great. They both have many weeks and months experience on board, a real benefit to us all. It will take a few days at sea to be comfortable with moving about safely particularly at night. I recall reading Dana’s book, Two Years Before the Mast describing going high aloft in a tall ship in the southern ocean, at night, with hail and ice in his face, and wire ropes flailing about at hight. Definitely puts our 21st century experience in perspective. Never-the-less we will be ready and practiced as a crew to sort out anything forward if need be. We will continue overnight and in all probability anchor tomorrow within a day sail of our interim destination QAQORTOQ, (Julianehäb).
Mike.