Predictions! Pshaww!

Last night at sea out of sight of land, I said. Nope. This little doozy is nasty – 35 – 45 knot-- Speed: definition of speed at sea. One knot is one nautical mile per hour. The nautical mile is about 1.15 % longer than the "statute" mile used on land. A knot is about half a metre per second. -- A knot is also the result of winding a rope around itself or another rope to make a join or a loop . SW gustsShort increases in wind speed – or people who signed the Gust Book. over 10+ metre swells and they are breaking with attitude. We have slowed right down, tiny bit of furlerA device fitted around the length of the forestay(s) of a sailing yacht that enables the crew to roll the headsail partially around the forestay and so make its effective area smaller (the same as reefing) or to roll it up completely (furling it). The sail would be furled when at anchor or otherwise not being used. There is a full description here . on the pole and we are just trying to ride it out. A couple of near knockdowns and I had to eat my lunch (last 2 slices of bacon fried in olive oil with a can of baby corn cobs – ok if that’s all you’ve got, though the can was a bit chewy!) standing strapped into the galley. Way too hairy anywhere else.

The system is taking us ENE and as we really don’t want to be driven into Taswegia’s lee shore, missing the barn doorMetaphor for whatever we were aiming at. Derived from the saying “Couldn’t hit a barn door at five paces” used to describe anyone who can’t shoot straight. completely we will just wait it out where we have sea room. It’s supposed to ease any time now but there’s no sign of it yet. Tedious in the extreme. Once it does ease we’ll be reasonably set to prod the door open once we can reach it.

Macca this morning left me feeling dull and slow witted – what do you think about out there? Duh! Shoulda’ said life, the universe, everything, what’s the question? why 42?. Anyway…
Watch this space!

[The interview with Macca is here (mn 4:20 to 13:05)]