Date - Friday 25th February 2005
Time - 0820 GMT
Position - 047 . 24 S 139 . 27 E
Barometer - 1011 mb steady
Sea Condition - Very calm, following seas
Sky - Blue skies, with little cloud

We are at present on the edge of a high that is close to New Zealand. We have just gybed to allow us to go further South, to ensure that we do not get too deep into the light winds ahead of us. The sea state is really very light. I went on deck in the night, a little before l was going to take the helm, and was amazed at the calmness of the evening.

We know that some heavy weather is coming our way and before the day is out, we will be running in high winds and big seas, well battened down. At the moment, Nick Bubb is changing the broken battens in the mainsail. Although the No.1,2,3,and 5 battens are broken, we are only changing the No.1 and No.5 battens, and taking out the No. 2 and 3, to allow Nick to repair them, and then we will refit them. By the way, it\’s Nick Leggatt who is my navigator, and Nick Bubb who is responsible for battens, apart from other work briefs, names can be misleading.

According to our on-shore weather router, Lee Bruce, we should continue with light winds for the next 12 / 18 hours, and then we should prepare for some heavy weather sailing. The last time l went round the world and was not far from where we are now, we had 50 / 60 kts over the deck and the boat went well.

Nick Bubb and others are well on the way to fitting the repaired battens into the mainsail, Simon Redding is still trying to repair the starboard watermaker, we have jybed on to a starboard tack, l have had a shave and a real clean up, and now feel like a million dollars, Goncalo is off watch and is having a well deserved sleep, Nick Bubb is considering what to prepare for lunch and supper, it is his day in the galley, l could do with steak and chips and a couple of drinks, all the guys would go for that as well.

Life Goes On - Tony Bullimore

Share or bookmark this story: