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Weather prognosis was correct and wind has all but died out. I expect it to come back
soon from the southwest. For now, we are motoring. And even if the wind does
come back, I think we might just keep pushing along to ensure we arrive Falmouth
tomorrow as early as feasible after normal business hours so that we can
accelerate PRIDE II's turn-around and get back on our way towards Copenhagen.
The weekend has been spent rolling our way toward
England with fresh breezes and heavy swells from the northwest. We have been
steadily adding sail as the wind slowly went from 30-40 knots to 25-35 knots and
then to 20-25 knots. First we un-reefed the topsail. Then we sent the head-rig
back out and set the jib-topsail. I contemplated un-reefing the mainsail several
times, but the steady march of small but breezy and rainy squalls put to rest
those thoughts each time they came on a one-to-two hourly schedule.
Yesterday was our first "fair weather" day, if you could
call it that. The squalls were still active, but the wind was down a little,
the deck was dryer because the swells were shrinking, and the sky was bluer with
more sun than had been for a while. It was also the day we hit "48 hours to
go". So I threw a captain's party and invited the crew. (Who else was I going to
invite?)
 
The attendance was a little weak at first. Those rain
squalls you see. I also sprang this idea on Katie the cook with about 5 minutes
notice. But she is a true trooper and whipped up some frozen drinks (both
kinds) and passed out sliced cheddar cheese in a zip-lock bag and a tin of
saltines along with a box of gold fish crackers and voilˆ, we had a party! In
truth, notwithstanding Katie's efforts, had the squall not passed on and left us
with sunshine, my party would have been a major flop. Thus began the 48 Hour
party, which lasted about one and a half hours. As rightly these things should,
whether at sea or not.
Even with the sea dying down due to the reduction in
wind, PRIDE II rolled hugely this morning as she motored along. Most sail had
to be taken in as the slating and popping of having wind and not having wind
could eventually damage them. So we rolled. Breakfast today was omelets and
Katie was chasing them - and every pot and utensil we have - all around the
galley on the particularly deep rolls. Still, she was happy to produce seconds
for those that would have them. Soon after that gavotte, enough wind came back
to set some sail and now we are motor-sailing along with a comfortable ride with
limited rolling.
 Handling sail on any
vessel is not merely the process of setting them and trimming them and later
taking them back in. Aboard PRIDE II, due to the long head-rig that extends
beyond the stem, it can be necessary to either bring in the jibs or trice them
up. No amount of lashing of a lowered jib to the jib-boom can withstand the
forces of a sea washing over the jib-boom should it lower into the sea. Thus we
have to take them in. Other sail care can involve the choice of using them for
roll-damping the ship. However, as mentioned above, if the sails are slating,
especially if they are slating against hard objects like the standing rigging,
they will become damaged very quickly. I have had to live with very heavy
rolling of the ship in order to avoid damaging the sails because they were
slating so violently. I suppose one could argue that heavy rolling can cause
damage and injury. True enough. But PRIDE II's sails are the only ones she's
got and are the most powerful motive power she has. Engines can only be used if
there is fuel. Sails can be saved for another breeze, or be lost to a short
bout of comfort. Having made my decision to save and protect the sails and live
with the rolling, let me say it was not for more than about 6 hours. When we
reset sail with the new wind, they were in as good a condition as they were when
we struck them. So they were ready and able to be used when we wanted them.Cheers,
Captain Miles |
