Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Still chopping along!

We have now done 690nm on this leg so far, with 1280 to go to our Ihla Grande approach waypoint, and 1139 to the Oil fields. Seems hard to believe we have already done over 3500nm since we left Hout Bay! Apart from the French profile spinaker car which broke this morning, everything else is fine. We are a bit dissappointed in two of our electrical elements. The 4
x110AH Haze gel batteries do NOT retain their charges in such a way as to justify their prices, and the 50amp dinasaur battery charger, which Hutch told us to stick with because its "bullet proof".... Well we dont have to worry about bullets out here ! What I would like is a charger that puts in more than 10-12amps via the Genset! Definitely going to be deep sixed and replaced along the way! Thanks to Chris and Justin, we now know our sat time balances, and the Cape to Bahia radio scheds. We intend to try and pick them up this afternoon, if SSB is as I hope ,fixed. We did 131nm yesterday, and are sticking to our conservative sail plan, with minimal weatherhelm for Fred. Am also trying Roy's suggested downwind strategy at present. Probably
a little less efficient boat wise, but more efficient crew wise! Will discuss later! Position at present 12,24S, 23,44W, weather fine, 12-16kn wind, annoying lumpy cross swell, but life under the bimini just great!
!

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