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logbooks of the week
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2003-12-18
Hi there,
The repetitive sequences of going through a squall then being becalmed have only just f...
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2003-12-17
Hi there,
Yet another gale during the night, which Adrien courageously made her way through. Thi...
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2003-12-16
Hi there,
The days go by and one day is never like the next. Yesterday, I was tired after the p...
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2003-12-15
Hi there,
It was a tough night for Adrien. Another low-pressure area, which was deeper than the ...
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2003-12-15
Hi there,
The weather’s very dull, it’s raining and the sea is rough, but in spite of all that,...
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2003-12-12
Hi there,
I’ve just been through my first depression (it’s only normal!) in the South Pacific. H...
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Logbook of 2003-12-18 |
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Hi there,
The repetitive sequences of going through a squall then being becalmed have only just finished. It was like being in the doldrums, except the wind was always blowing from the WSW to the WNW, so head on, of course! During all that time, I kept up one solent and the mainsail, but I had to keep coming around from one side to the other, according to the most favourable tack. On the other hand, during the periods of calm, which were far too numerous, my mainsail swung from one side to the other, which didn’t do it much good.
Apart from two little holes where it rests, when I take in a reef, the edging is now frayed. It doesn’t matter much, but it could get worse with wear. I’ve also got a few places, where the external protective coating has peeled off. In short, my 3DL mainsail is the focus of my attention for the time being.
I think the cuben fibre from last year was more resistant to wear. Pity it’s so expensive...If worst comes to worst, I have my old mainsail on board, but I don’t think I’ll be requiring it. For the moment, the foresails have stood up well to the conditions, which have been quite harsh in the fifties, which aren’t always roaring.
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A day with Maria and Loeiz from Kerfouler’s cuddly toy.
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Logbook of 2003-12-17 |
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Hi there,
Yet another gale during the night, which Adrien courageously made her way through. This morning, (we now have a time difference of 7 hours and the Sun is just coming up) the sky is full of threatening clouds.
Under each cloud there is a squally shower and the wind gets up to 25-30 knots. Between two clouds there are only 10 knots of wind and it is sunny, so Adrien doesn’t have enough sail out. But there’s not a lot we can do about it, as the squalls are so frequent that I would spend all my time out on deck hoisting or lowering the mainsail. These squalls will soon disappear, and behind them I will have several days of relative calm for this area!
I’ve just finished a great book, Rouge Brésil by Jean Christophe Rufin (Gallimard). It’s a novel based on a real story that took place in Rio. It’s books like this that during my youth (and still today) gave me the desire for adventure and the urge to sail the seas.
It’s true too that my current adventure doesn’t take me into many ports of call!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A day with Cécile Baggiani-Tardieu’s cuddly toy, Loustic the lion.
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Logbook of 2003-12-16 |
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Hi there,
The days go by and one day is never like the next. Yesterday, I was tired after the previous night’s storm. Today, I’ve had a good rest after a very quiet day, which marks a transitionary period before the next low-pressure area arrives.
I’m regularly losing ground over Philippe Monnet at the moment, as he went much further south than me and thus took a shortcut on this stretch. But when he found himself in the middle of the icebergs, he had to head back up north, and he lost more time then than he had gained. I’m therefore not worried about continually losing ground, as it will soon turn to my advantage.
Attempting a record is very different from a race, since you already know what your opponent achieved. It’s true that in a race, seeing someone head off south, I’d be inclined to follow him to keep ;up with him. Now, however, there’s no doubt about it, in a few days the gap will widen once again. We must stay calm!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A day with Etienne Barlet’s cuddly toy, a big squirrel with a bushy tail.
Day 39. Position at 1 p.m.: 54°45’S / 104°12’W
Wind 12 knots from NE. Sea: slight. Temperatures: day 11° / night 7° / sea 7°
Distance covered in the last 24 hours: 161 miles. To the antemeridian 2,795 miles.
Lead over Monnet: 6 days and 14 h.
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Logbook of 2003-12-15 |
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Hi there,
It was a tough night for Adrien. Another low-pressure area, which was deeper than the previous one passed over me last night with some fairly violent winds (40-45 knots) and above all some very rough seas.
I’m now on the other side of the front, and I’m taking advantage of it to edge up to the fifties. Gradually, my confidence is building, and the memory of losing my mast last time is disappearing as the miles go by. Not even reducing the sails as much as possible can stop Adrien from slamming down when the seas are heavy, unless I turn back!
The Nordic Mast, that I check regularly doesn’t appear to be under any strain and is behaving correctly. The BSI stays don’t seem to be stretching in spite of the huge strain, each time Adrien hits the waves.
In short, for the moment, everything is going well, but I’m keeping an eye open and am acting extremely cautiously.
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A day with Eloan Leissen’s cuddly toy, which has just arrived in this world.
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Logbook of 2003-12-15 |
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Hi there,
The weather’s very dull, it’s raining and the sea is rough, but in spite of all that, I’ve made good progress and so I’m quite happy. I’m often asked whether I have made any changes to Adrien since last year. Apart from the repair work and a completely new rig, I tend to say no.
That’s wrong in fact! I did add something, which will make my life much easier in the south, a sort of canvas cover, which stretches out from the roof and offers some shelter to the front of the cockpit and winch area. That means that when I have a little adjustment to make, I no longer have to wrap up completely in boots and a sou’wester before going outside. I go out, as I am, do a couple of turns on the handle and it’s all done in a jiffy. It’s the life of Riley!
I’ve worked out that if I manage to get 5° West everyday, I’ll reach the antemeridian on New Year’s Day. Looking at it like that, as I will miss a day because of the time difference (6 hours at the moment), it will be quite something to miss New Year’s Day. I must get a move on!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A weekend with Ethel Fortin’s cuddly toy, a pure white little dog.
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Logbook of 2003-12-12 |
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Hi there,
I’ve just been through my first depression (it’s only normal!) in the South Pacific. Here’s what happens. The wind starts from the north and quickly backs NW while strengthening. It’s time to bring in the genoese. Then it finishes going around by coming from WNW and strengthens still further. I take in one reef than two. If the wind strengthens still further, which wasn’t the case yesterday, I raise the staysail, take in a third reef, and finally, in extreme conditions, I lower the staysail and just use the mainsail with 3 reefs.
Next, the front goes over and the wind goes around to the WSW, I change my tack and we head off to the NW. Then the wind abates, and one by one, I hoist everything back up...what a relief!
Of course, as I cannot simply head west all the time, I have to tack to the SW then the NW, so my progress at the end of the 24 hours isn’t that great. Now I’m in a new transitionary period, as yesterday’s little depression went over very quickly and I’m waiting for the next one!
See you on Sunday,
JL VDH
A day with KIRU, the red dog, who is HOWEL’s cuddly toy born just a few days ago.
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