17 May, 07 – 21.33
15.4320N,51.1083W
24 hr progress: 16.2 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 615 Nautical Miles ( 1137 km)
Distance completed: 2613 NM (4938 km)
Wave height: 10 ft, Winds: 15 knots NE, Bearing: 270 degrees.
(Sorry for the short post today. Just very tired.)
Yesterdays trend of rolling waves continued into early this morning before dying out around 6.00 am and it was back to rowing in a very confused sea.
I am back to 16.2 nautical miles today which is better than expected. I have mentally prepared my self to expect an average of 15 nautical miles per day – rowing without a rudder so what ever extra mileage I gain above that helps improve the atmosphere on board.
I am finding it a bit stressful trying to keep the boat on course. To achieve a straight line progress of 15 miles, I have to row a lot more to make up for zig zag path of the boat and course corrections.
The the leak forced me to empty the three storage compartments at the stern earlier on. As a result of the lighter stern, it been more difficult to keep the rear into the waves as it gets frequently lifted out and slammed back down with the force a passing wave.
The good news is that my last fix to the water leak is holding up well. Its reduced to a trickle, which I bail out every few days rather than everyday.
So, I spent the day trying to resolve this weight issue by desperately trying to find items on board that I could use to put some weight back into the storage compartments in the stern.
I went through everything on board and I've managed to add about 80 kg in weight to the stern made up by:
- gas canisters, cooking stuff, tools, spare parts for equipment – that I don't think I will need till I reach Antigua
- all the saved rubbish consisting of plastic, tin and glass packaging packaging from the food consumed on board (this had been saved to be disposed off in Antigua in an environmentally friendly way.)
- bottles sun creams, lotions etc
- empty jars and bottles -refilled with sea water
The overall weight of the boat is still considerably light. However, the extra 80 kg at the stern should make some difference.
At least, I will not have to sleep in the furtherest corner of the boat trying to use my body weight to keep the stern down.
B
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the bottom of the wave
Surfing down the back
Taken at 22.38 GMT. The world looks better in colour.
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