Sep 07, 2005 - 1715hrs UTC

1715hrs 07 Sep 2005 UTC 18’26”N 025’51”W Ref 339

Did anyone spot the deliberate mistake (actually, I just forgot to explain it)? In the last Daily Bull, the GPS distance was less than the calculated day’s run. If everything is working properly, this should not be possible. But it isn’t all working properly and every time we have a USB crash, I have to turn off the GPS and the SatCom until I’ve got the system back up again – if there’s any data whatever getting to the USB-Serial gizmoSome kind of gadget or other, normally infuriating when it powers up, the laptop thinks it’s got a serial ballpoint mouse going ape around its edges – can’t pre-delete it because there’s nothing in device manager to delete. It all has to be done from inside device manager as it comes up. Tedious. And the CMap dongle has to be inserted, SoBSoftware on Board, from Digitboat – navigation software used by Alex for both circumnavigations. activated and the dongle removed before the main USB cable is attached or, when the dongle is removed, the laptop again sees the USB gizmoSome kind of gadget or other, normally infuriating as a mouse and crashes it and, usually, the computer as well – the dreaded blue screen of deathWhat happens when the computer crashes. Does anyone know how to permanently remove the serial ballpoint mouse so that it doesn’t boot or isn’t seen by XP? Anyway, I’m gradually getting to a standard procedure that works. If only the failures had an element of consistency. Enough nerdery – back to Twaddle.

Reading Pete’s stuff about the FastnetFastnet Race: 608 mile biennial race from Cowes, UK, Isle of Wight, to the Fastnet Rock off Southern Ireland, finishing in Plymouth. Berrimilla took part in 2005 and 2009. – Pascal Loisin, the guy that beat us in the 2 hander, was 16 hours ahead and would have had a fair tide or slack water across Falmouth Bay over the last 40 miles to the finish – we were headbutting nearly 2 knots most of the way and that was the difference – about 2 miles on corrected time. Just as in Storm Bay and the DerwentThe Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. Its large estuary forms the port of Hobart. (at the end of a Hobart Race) it all depends on timing and luck. Extinction is a tough examinerShe who asks awkward questions of the crew and tests them with difficult tasks. but the Dinosaurs almost got themselves reincarnated to bite a bum or two.  Would have been a nice Jurassic touch. Everyone has their ‘ifs’ in ocean racing!

I’ve found the mungBeans sprouted on board if it’s warm enough beansBeans sprouted on board if it’s warm enough – we used exactly half of them on the way up – and we have started the vegie garden again. Cress is a lot of effort for the return, so will leave that for later – in case of desperation.

Hugh, thanks for snails, Is for news, Hi George, Hi, Ross – the northern constellations are all going slowly belly up – Orion is flat on his back and the Great BearGreat Bear / Ursa MajorGreat Bear / Ursa Major / The PloughGreat Bear / Ursa Major / The Plough / The SaucepanGreat Bear / Ursa Major / The Plough / The Saucepan: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere / The SaucepanGreat Bear / Ursa Major / The Plough / The Saucepan: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere / The PloughGreat Bear / Ursa Major / The Plough / The SaucepanGreat Bear / Ursa Major / The Plough / The Saucepan: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere / The SaucepanGreat Bear / Ursa Major / The Plough / The Saucepan: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere: names for the same defining constellation in northern hemisphere is getting lower. NoiceAlexism for quite a lot of things which taste good or are going especially well – I keep looking into the Milky Way down south – when we can see it through the haze and dust – but the Southern CrossDefining constellation in Southern hemisphere has a way to go yet.

Warm sticky night – tiny moon, almost gone. Could do with one of Pete’s long tinkling glasses with condensation on the outside…Have just gybedGybe - A sailing term for turning the boat so that the stern passes through the wind. Potentially dangerous if not controlled because the wind can fill an uncontrolled mainsail from the wrong side and crash it across the boat, possibly causing damage to the rig and anyone getting in the way. to pass closer to Sao Antao in the morning. A symbolic first turn for home, although we are not quite holding 180 yet.