Crew Blog

Where’s the wind?

30 April 2008

westernaustralia2011.com trimming the spinnaker at sunset

Whether meeting friends at the various stops or receiving emails from them, the most common question and inquiry is always ‘how bad was the bad weather?’

But, strangely enough, even though we will always remember the Liverpool departure, the Durban departure and that revolting time heading to China, our groans are much louder when we talk of our becalmings! The worst of which (so far) was the three days bobbing around in the Canaries however, the current leg could soon supersede this.

Every day is getting warmer and with it come stunning sunrises and wonderful sunsets, but with this beauty comes the dread of little or no wind. From a land based perspective this doesn’t appear so terrible but just imagine this…. Sunshine all day (because clouds usually bring wind) which requires constant attention to sunblock; hot decks which burn the feet, so shoes of some description are essential, hence lots of smelly feet; oppressing heat down below decks which makes sleeping uncomfortable if not impossible; un-ending attention to trimming the flapping sails trying to get some movement and the helplessness of the helmsperson as he/she watches that little arrow on top of the mast spin uncontrollably, making it impossible to fill the sails.

But the most horrible thing of all is the thought (real or imagined) that everybody else in the fleet has wind and is flying along leaving us behind.

Oh well, we’ll just have to learn to enjoy the sunrises…

Judy Lawrence

1. Jadranka Lota, Maidenhead 30 April 2008

You are joking...!!! Just did the weekend in the Solent that also had dolldrums (don’t know how to spell it - I am foreign!!) and was nauseous all the time. And doing the atlantic I thought that at least we’ll have some wind. Oh well I maight as well look tanned.
Yey Panama here I come ) x x x

2. Jadranka Lota, Maidenhead, UK 30 April 2008

WHAT KELP!!!!!

3. Jack and Becks, Norfolk/Preston/London 30 April 2008

Light winds, as my old man would say any1 can sail in heavy winds good sailors keep the boat going in light winds who win races! Perhaps thats where i was going wrong, keep on going guys things will come around aventually and the tables will turn in our favour!

Keep on plodding along, think of all u guys

Jack and Drozy Becks

P.S. U should not have time to look at sunrises should b trimming 24/7

4. Rick Palmer, Perth Western Australia 01 May 2008

What a great description!

I recall the bloody mizzen flopping from port to starboard; flop - flop - flop. With each movement the sheet would come across and cause the turninng blocks and shackles to cling and clack. My crew mates on deck did not understand my anger when I came up and tied the whole lot off then went below to try and get more sleep. During that voyage, over one 72 hour period, we travelled 72 NM south to north. We were on our way to Lombok in a race from Fremantle.

I grin when I remember that experience now and think to myself, “Self, sailing teaches you patience.”

Hang in there Judy, the wind will come.

NB. what is the fishing like??

Cheers

Rick

5. PETER LAWRENCE, Melbourne, Australia 01 May 2008

What an eloquent piece of writing, Judy. Your use of words and the feeling of standing on the hot decks with you all came through powerfully .... one could even catch a whiff of the smelly feet. Also a fabulous photo of a stunning sunrise on a glassy sea certainly gives us the sense of motionless progress (today’s oxymoron). Anyway, the other boats are also suffering from the windless seas. The real issue for a number of us is how not to be gone from Jamaica before the BBB arrives there - the frustrations of intercontinental yacht racing groupies.

6. Hilary, Perth, WA 02 May 2008

Has johnboy been sweating on the cushions again? last time i remember seeing them on deck they were drying out. i do remember it was easier to trim lying down so maybe that’s the reason for having them there (or at least have that excuse up your sleeve if caught lying down on the job by skip...)

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