06.01.2007
Tenacious high pressure
Full wind on the stern in light airs, Temenos II is trying in vain to extract
itself from this high pressure, which has been hanging onto its skirts since its
departure from the New Zealand capital. The progress of the monohull over the
past 48 hours doesn’t much resemble what you might expect from the South
Pacific. The train of depressions is keenly awaited and Michèle and Dominique
will have to sit it out patiently as they look likely to be beset by this high
pressure system for another two days yet. Behind them, Mutua Madrilena, which is
benefiting from steadier wind from a better angle, are managing to drop
southwards by adopting a better trajectory and are making the most of the
conditions to snatch back some miles from Temenos II. Even though the 3rd place
doesn’t look to be in jeopardy for the time being, Michèle and Dominique will
have to pay particular heed to the Spanish boat. Late in the morning, the duo
had to resort to gybing and diving southwards, despite this being a rather
calamitous heading on this tack, in order to try to escape the high pressure,
which is located further to the North.
In Michèle’s message of the day, she looked into a number of the singularities
that a circumnavigation offers.
"Last night we crossed the meridian and gained a day, for us it meant a double
dose of the 5th January. And I can certainly confirm that there is nothing more
like a 5th January than a 5th January! These two ‘same’ days were each almost as
slow as the other, with a slight advantage going to the second nonetheless.
Despite the lack of speed though, we have at least been able to benefit from
glorious sunshine and clear skies; we knew it wouldn't last very long.
After two unsuccessful attempts on the other tack, which would have led us down
into the South, we have opted for a passage around the North of the Chatham
Islands, as a result of a not very obliging wind that has been with us since
Wellington,. For now the wind doesn't seem to have decided to allow us a few
degrees of rotation, which we will need to hang a right.
Last night we passed a fishing boat, doubtless the last for a good while. Soon
we’ll have to keep watch for other less welcoming presences trying to cross
tacks with us.
We have got some regularity back into the watch systems now and are beginning to
wake up without the co-skipper having to resort to the onboard music box! Our
bodies are gradually getting back into a rhythm after spending two nights in a
hotel and the copious meals wolfed down at the restaurant. Speaking of the
restaurant, a good steak is but a distant memory now. The freeze-dried food has
reasserted itself again, and there's not even a crumb of the fresh food left,
which was a last minute buy in Wellington.
We made the most of the stopover to clean up the boat a bit, but it was more of
a necessity than a luxury. I have to admit that I was a little ashamed to see
the inside of the boat on our arrival, but you just have to make the best of
things. Jokingly the Kiwis reassured me by saying: "Don't worry about it, it
won't be any worse than on Hugo Boss". Whether or not this was true I didn't
wait to find out, maybe they said the same thing about us to Mutua Madrilena the
following day!
It should be recognised that we live a bit like animals aboard, with the good
and bad sides that this can entail. This begins with giving up being a biped
once you enter into the boat. The areas where you can stand upright inside
Temenos II are few and far between, so we spend most of our time getting around
the 18 metre hull on all fours. And the similarities with the animal kingdom
don’t end there. I’ll try to get back to you on this long, rich chapter some
other time, but right now I must leave you to go on watch.
The weather files show continued light wind until 8th January, prior to standing
any hope of being able to catch up with the train of depressions. Patience,
patience…
--
Kate Jennings
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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