Aboard Dignity (Lagoon 420) Blog

686nm to go.

I changed the year old trolling lines for new lines – the same as we put on the line we gave to Leu Cat (that has been catching tuna). I made up a new lure to replace the latest loss the same as the lure we gave. The lines were out all day. How much did we catch? Zip.

Winds are beginning to die on us getting into the 15 knot range. Without our Code Zero our progress is not what we’d like it to be and hopes for a May 1st arrival are now being stretched. It’s still possible but we’ll need favourable winds for the next four days and right now it’s not happening. Such is life. The light winds mean we’ve been unable to regenerate effectively overnight. Not in of itself a problem as if winds do pick up we’ll catch up on what we’ve used in a day or two. The additional effect is we’re seeing less benefit from the wind generator.

Finished “Hound of the Baskervilles” and now onto “A Study in Scarlet”.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

As we head west, dawn and sunrise gets later and later on our current time system. My 8 am shift now occurs at dawn. My favourite time of the day. With my cup of coffee, I sit up at the helm and watch the world light up. The sun slowly peeks up over the horizon making the water glitter and sparkle. Sunrise obscured by clouds are often even more dramatic. Rays beam out and through the clouds the growing glow changes colors and intensity. There’s always that fresh feeling of expectation and promises of something new.
My night shift is also improving. The moon is waxing and it will be full moon in a few days. I can see clearly the scattered black clouds, the silver shimmer of the sea and the soft outline of the horizon. Being able to see all around makes me feel less vulnerable. So much better than swirling around in a black hole during new moon.

Recently we’ve been losing a lure every day so the fish are biting but we’re not noticing. With this choppy water its difficult to see when a fish is caught so Steve has devised an alarm. He’s attached an extension to the fishing line with a nut tied to it. Not the peanut type of nut but metal nut and bolt type. The idea is when a fish tugs on the line, the extension drops and the nut hitting the deck makes noise. We are hopeful!

We’ve hit another major milestone. 1001, 1000, 999. Yeah! We have less than a thousand miles to go and counting down in three digits. We’re beginning to get very excited about land fall. I’m already dreaming of a gentle rocking anchorage, a purring washing machine and a large bottle of wine.

825nm to go.

On day 14 we had some delicious wind powered bread. By wind powered I mean that it was needed and cooked electrically in the bread maker using power from the boat which in turn was collected through the props the night before. Without going to the bother of figuring it out I wonder what the true cost of cooking the load is. Ignoring wear and tear, the extra juice would come at the cost of extended regen time which in term extends the duration of the trip. My guess is the bread cost us somewhere around 10 minutes.

Spent the daylight hours recovering our lost overnight line by sailing wing on wing. The zig-zag continues. Because I write this on day 15 I can say that the wind has shifted 10-15 degrees to the south and we’re only off by a bit this morning. Less zagging to do today. Speed was off a bit but we’ve still made about 153nm point to point in 24 hours (further if you count distance actually traveled). We’re remain on course for a daytime arrival on the 1st. In my recent blogs I’ve been referring to the rhumb line when I really meant great circle route. They’re not the same thing. The rhumb line is the route which keeps you at a constant bearing to the lines of latitude. This ends up not being the shortest route – simply the easiest to navigate. In this day and age of GPS we aim to sail the great circle routes which are the shortest point to point but the bearings vary as one goes.

I’ve finished reading all of the Sherlock Holmes short stories and am now working my way through the longer ones. Currently on The Hound of the Baskervilles.

We lost another lure today despite being quick off the mark when the nut dropped. I’m now thinking than the lines have been in the water for so long and been tangled too much and may have small dinks which are giving way. I’ll replace them and use the same line from which we made the hand line for Leu Cat.

That’s about it. I’ve managed a blog without once mentioning those pervasive, nasty, stinking flying fish.

Today I had slight anxiety attack.
It wasn’t because we were on a plastic boat, being tossed around like a speck on a vast ocean, a thousand miles from the nearest land.
It wasn’t the realisation that there are potential fronts bringing possible squalls or storms.
It wasn’t the knowledge that the continuous pounding of the waves and shaking of the boat could cause serious wear and tear.
What’s really really really getting to me is the growing pile of dirty washing. Steve doesn’t want me to use the washing machine because the movement of the boat could damage the drum during the spin cycle. And I’m sure he’s right but I do have a limited tolerance to smelly washing. Its hard having a much needed and loved appliance and not being able to use it.
You may say ‘What about hand washing’
Well, I have no tubs or large bowls and our small sinks can only fit two or three small items to hand wash. And try filling a sink with soapy water on a swaying, rocking boat. There’s a lot of large items to wash too. The sheet that Steve was on when a wet fish landed on him. Our used damp stinky towels, numerous sweaty T shirts, countless underwear. I am getting pretty desperate and obsessive. Steve may not mind wearing his undies for a couple of days but it doesn’t sit well with me. I like my clean knickers.