A bit more ocean swell today, so your abs get a workout just sitting down or walking about the ship. The morning came in cloudy, but cleared by noon into yet another gorgeous bluewater day. We’re more than half way to St Helena now, and only a couple of days away from the Greenwich meridian and westerly latitudes. We’re about 180 degrees from Fiji now – half way round the world.
SHIPS WORK: Working on holystoning the quarterdeck with beach sand, salt water and canvas covered blocks of wood getting rid of some layers in preparation for oiling it again. Finished up the greasing and oiling aloft, and lots of small rigging jobs like patch serving, chafe gear, and making a new bow-pudding for the skiff, which acts as a fender when it’s pushing the ship. Sail-making continues on the cargo hatch. New jib and studdingsail overhaul going on.
BOUND FROM: Luderitz, Namibia, Southern Africa
TOWARDS: James Bay, St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean
TIME ZONE: GMT +1
NOON POSITION: 21°16.3’S /005°09.4’E
DAYS RUN: 144 nm
PASSAGE DISTANCE RUN: 691 nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 687 nm
COURSE AND SPEED: North West, Course made good 293° true, 6.8 knots
WIND: Wind Force 5, South South West
WEATHER: Fair, 6/8 cloud, barometer 1022 millibars and steady,
visibility excellent
SWELL HEIGHT & DIRECTION: Southerly 2-3m
SAILS SET: All square sails set and braced square as we run down wind. The port side of the mainsail is ‘goose winged’ or clewed up so it doesn’t shadow the foresail too much and keeps the centre of effort more forward. This helps with steering.
Downwind sailing with the mainsail goosewinged