This morning at 0740 while the oncoming watch were below eating breakfast and the 4-8 had just finished the morning deck wash, the port martingale backrope parted, the resulting pressure from the headsails on the jibboom causing it to break at the cap. All hands were called to take in sail, and bear away from the wind to take the pressure off the rig until we could get the fore t’gallant mast stayed, and the jibboom catted and lashed safely to the side of the ship. Then once all was secure, we worked to unbend the jibs and get the rest of the spar and the rigging aboard. Thankfully the only damage was to the backrope – actually a piece of chain and barely a month old – and to the jiboom itself. Meanwhile one of the blank spars that we carry for such eventualities was unlashed and set up on sawhorses so the carpenter and his assistants could start to fashion a temporary jibboom to allow us to carry a couple more headsails. The crew did a very good job responding quickly and safely to orders, and demonstrated just how much seamanship they have learned since this voyage began. We were underway again soon after lunch.
SHIP’S WORK: Unbent inner, outer and flying jibs, recovered headrig standing rigging and jibboom, set up fore t’gallant and royal mast with stays to the bow sprit, sent down fore royal sail.
TOWARDS: Cadiz, Spain
TIME ZONE: ZD + 1
NOON POSITION: 37°34.9’N /021°36.4’W
DAYS RUN: 20nm
PASSAGE LOG: 492nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 740 nm
COURSE AND SPEED: Hove to under lower topsails on the starboard tack
WIND: NE, Force 3
WEATHER: 7/8 cloud cover (stratocumulus), air temp 62F (17°C), sea surface temp 66F (19°C) barometer reading 1035 millibars, visibility good
SWELL HEIGHT & DIRECTION: 2 foot, NE